history resources

Free Ancient Greece Go Fish Game – Ancient Greece Unit Study

March 12, 2024 | 29 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have a free Ancient Greece Go Fish Game. There’s not a better way to start back to our Ancient Greece unit study than playing a game. Also, look at my second free Ancient Greece Lapbook and you’ll love my page History Games for more fun ideas. This is my first Ancient Greece lapbook and unit study.

Because there is so much to cover about Ancient Greece, I have now created Ancient Greece Lapbook 2 and this game is part of that free download.

Free Ancient Greece Go Fish Game - Ancient Greece Unit Study

So, today I am sharing my free Ancient Greece go fish game.

I have created some history cards to play Go Fish! Want to play?

But first, look at some of these books about Ancient Greece.

A book and a game and you’re set for the day.

Kids Books about Ancient Greece

Besides when you add living books it can make history come to life.

8 Living History Books about Ancient Greece

You'll love this roundup of living history books about Ancient Greece.

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

In print for over fifty years, D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths has introduced generations to Greek mythology—and continues to enthrall young readers. Here are the greats of ancient Greece—gods and goddesses, heroes and monsters—as freshly described in words and pictures as if they were alive today. No other volume of Greek mythology has inspired as many young readers as this timeless classic. Both adults and children alike will find this book a treasure for years to come. “For any child fortunate enough to have this generous book . . . the kings and heroes of ancient legend will remain forever matter-of-fact; the pictures interpret the text literally and are full of detail and witty observation.”—The Horn Book

Ancient Greece for Kids Through the Lives of its Philosophers, Lawmakers, and Heroes (History for Kids - Traditional, Story-Based Format)

The suggested reader age for this book is 8 to 14 years old. To write this book, I went back to Herodotus, Plutarch, Diogenes Laertius, and other ancient sources of biographical anecdotes, and extracted from them the stories that will be most memorable to a modern kid. I retold them without adding any fictional color. I have omitted some things, however. Anything gruesome or seriously cruel is not included. Anything off-color, or outside traditional-family-friendly morality is not included. I have included only accounts of the most major battles, and without much detail. Battles are important, but as a kid - maybe as a girl - I was falling asleep over the ancient battles. Politics: Again, I have included only major turns of events.

I wove the information about the social order and geography of Ancient Greece into the stories of the era's historical figures. So, no worries, the kid will learn about the Agora and Acropolis of Athens, the city-states of Corinth and Sparta, daily life in an Ancient Greek household, the major Greek temples, and the three orders of Ancient Greek architecture. This book is richly illustrated. I don't agree that if you are 13 or 16 you should be content with pages and pages of text and no pictures. Illustrations help both kids and grownups to visualize - and therefore to remember - events and descriptions. I have illustrated the book mostly with paintings portraying historical figures or everyday life in classical Greece. Whenever I could, I chose late 19th century and early 20th century art over the older neoclassical paintings for a more accurate representation of the Ancient Greek costume and environment.

The Iliad for Boys and Girls

The Iliad is typically described as one of the greatest war stories of all time. Set during the Trojan War, this timeless poem vividly conveys the horror and heroism of men and gods wrestling with towering emotions and battling amid devastation and destruction. Homer's tale is a compassionate view of human life lived under the shadow of suffering and death in the face of an often uncaring divinity.

Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library)

Jeanne Bendick, through text and pictures, admirably succeeds in bringing to life the ancient Greek mathematician who enriched mathematics and all branches of science. Against the backdrop of Archimedes' life and culture, the author discusses the man's work, his discoveries and the knowledge later based upon it. The simple, often humorous, illustrations and diagrams greatly enhance the text.

The Great Philosophers: Socrates, Plato & Aristotle - Ancient Greece - 5th Grade Biography - Children's Biographies

You have probably heard about Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. When it comes to ancient minds who created foundations in philosophy, science, and math, these three names would automatically come up. But what exactly did they do to warrant immense respect and admiration? Well, your fifth grader will soon find out from this biography book.

Marathon Looks on the Sea

Illustrated by Erwin Schachner. The story of the Battle of Marathon and how it determined the future of Athens.

Life in Ancient Athens (Picture the Past)

What was it like to live in Ancient Athens? All the people who lived in ancient Greece spoke the same language and worshipped the same gods and goddesses. But they all lived in different city states a city and the land around it that it controlled. These city states were all run differently, and there were often fights between them. Despite their differences, there were things that united the city states. Find out more in this exciting title.

Growing Up In Ancient Greece (Growing Up In series)

Describes daily life in ancient Greece, discussing life in the city, life in the country, school, ceremonies and festivals, food, and other aspects

Ancient Greece Go Fish Game

You know how I feel about hands-on history. If there is a way to learn history that way, I’ll teach it that way.

The cards have more facts about Ancient Greece that I want Tiny to know.

Games are so much more engaging than a worksheet (uggg).

Don’t get me wrong, I believe worksheets have a place, but a game makes facts fun and easy to remember.

Too, though Mr. Awesome 2015 never minds playing with Tiny, he won’t always be around.

Hands on History

So in adapting this and upcoming games for an only child, this game can be played like memory match up, simple memorization or I can even play with Tiny.

Besides, these game cards can be added to our lapbook.

Also if you love hands-on learning don’t forget that Home School In the Woods have some beautiful units.

I’ll probably end up making a pocket for the cards. Do you want one to store them in? I am thinking yes.

Don’t forget too that this is my third time around studying Ancient Greece, so grab my first lapbook here and Ancient Civilization here .(Minoan and Mycenaean civilization)

Hope you luv this hands-on fun and printable game.

Free Ancient Greece Go Fish Game - Ancient Greece Unit Study. Download this FREE Go Fish Printable Card game to teach your kids about Ancient Greece. It’s a fun hands-on history printable game. When finished playing, add to their Ancient Greece Lapbook. Gab the Ancient Greece Lapbook too. CLICK HERE to download it!

More Ancient Greece Hands-on Activities

How to Get the Free Ancient Greece Lapbook 2 & Go Fish Ancient Greece

Now, how to grab the free lapbook and Go Fish Ancient Greece Game. It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) Sign up on my email list.

2) Grab the freebie.

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

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Famous and Historic Trees Fun Nature and History Homeschool Unit Study

March 9, 2024 | 7 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

The beauty of unit studies is the ability to combine multiple subjects. This famous and historic trees fun study combines nature, history, and geography. Also, look at my other Lapbooks Ideas and my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies. Add in some art and music and it’s a memorable unit study.

So today, I rounded up some fun resources for creating a famous and historic trees nature and history unit study.

Famous and Historic Trees Fun Nature and History Homeschool Unit Study

First, look at this book we fell in love with which gave us the kick start to our ideas.

Celebritrees Historic & Famous Trees of the World states it’s for grades 2 to 4, but this idea can be used for a super great unit study for multiple ages.

Besides, the history and legend of the famous trees in the book gives plenty of chance for a deep unit study.

Next, add in some of these fun books.

9 Tree Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

You'll love using one of these books as a science reference or to use for art to inspire life science lessons.

Celebritrees: Historic & Famous Trees of the World

Some trees have lived many lifetimes, standing as silent witnesses to history. Some are remarkable for their age and stature; others for their usefulness. A bristlecone pine tree in California has outlived man by almost 4,000 years; a baobab tree in Australia served as a prison for Aboriginal prisoners at the turn of the twentieth century; and a major oak in England was used as a hiding place for Robin Hood and his men (or so the story goes…).

The fourteen trees in this book have earned the title "Celebritrees" for their global fame and significance. Both in fact and in legend, these fascinating trees remind us not only how much pleasure trees bring, but what they can tell us about history.

The Busy Tree

Spectacular illustrations rendered in oil paint, and a rhyming text that describes a tree’s activities from its roots to its branches, introduce young readers to the amazing activities that go on in a tree. Acorns nibbled by chipmunks, ants scurrying across a trunk, a spider spinning a web, leaves “breathing out air for all to breathe in”—everything adds up to a “busy tree” for all to “come and see.”

The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-Ups

This is a fantastic reference book to have on hand for tree studies.

It has great illustrations and covers everything from how a tree “eats and drinks” to types of trees, seeds, how they change in the seasons, why we need them and more

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world.

Trees, Leaves & Bark (Take Along Guides)

An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife.

Tree Full of Wonder: An educational, rhyming book about magic of trees for children

Tree Full of Wonder is a vibrant, rhyming, educational and unique picture book showing the unbreakable bond between people and trees. For children ages 3-8. Kids will fall in love with nature and will become Protectors of the Trees.

The Magic and Mystery of Trees (The Magic and Mystery of Nature)

From the highest branch and leaf down to the complex “wood wide web” of roots, it’s no wonder every part of a tree plays an important role in its own growth and the habitat of the whole forest or woodland. The Magic & Mystery of Trees is a nature book that takes children on a fascinating journey of exploration, showing them just how special these mighty organisms are.

Figurines of Pine, Elm, Juniper, Monkey Puzzle, Topiary, Petticoat, Aspen, Two Maples

Learn and Play: These figurines provide a fun and educational way to learn about different tree species, promoting environmental awareness and appreciation.

Fandex Family Field Guides: Trees

Bringing the world of TREES to your fingertips, FANDEX presents a foolproof field guide. Four visual keys--die-cut leaf, bark pattern, flower, nut or seed, and photo of the full tree--plus descriptions of habitat and more combine to give a complete picture of North America's forest and backyard trees.

In addition, TREES is a cultural history--of the mighty White Oak, California Redwood, Aillanthus, the tree that grows in Brooklyn, and the stately White Ash, as important for the bows of early Native Americans as for the baseball bats of today.

Also, there are plenty of books about the nature of trees and science and even poetry, but we loved learning about the famous trees of the world.

Famous and Historic Trees

Although the book only lists 14 famous and historic trees of the world, you could easily add other features to the search besides the oldest, tallest, or biggest trunk.

Science of Trees

Next, add in a bit of science. How are trees defined? Look below at some of their characteristics.

Trees usually have a single stem, or trunk.	Trees are woody plants.
Trees are at least 15 feet tall.	Trees have a branched-out top called a crown.

Moreover ,trees clean the air, give shade, cool our house, conserve energy and attract songbirds. Also, trees reduce erosion and conserve energy.

MORE TREE CRAFTS

From Forest to Fun: Unique Crafts With Tree Bark

Easy Pine Craft Tree Ideas And A Free Life Cycle Printable

Furthermore, look at the information on the historic trees.

Learning about the Methuselah Tree

The Methuselah Tree has lived more than 4,600 years. It is a Bristlecone Pine and it’s located in California.

Methuselah Tree Lesson Plan
A Bristlecone Pine Named ‘Methuselah’
Here is an outline map of California

About the Ancient Bristle Cone Pine
Read about the Bristle Cone Pine here
Learn about California history here

Moon Trees

Stuart Roosa was a former U.S. Forest Service worker who orbited in the command module of the Apollo 14 in 1971. He conducted scientific experiments in lunar orbit.

He put hundreds of tree seeds in a packet and took with him to space.

When he got back to earth, the seeds were germinated and are known as “moon trees” and are found all over the U.S. and the world.

Famous Scythe Tree

This next tree is in Waterloo, New York and the Balm-of-Gilead stands as living monument to a young soldier that went off to fight in the American Civil War.

Scythe Tree
Read about the Story of the Scythe tree
New York word search
Here is a mini unit study too about New York.

Prison Boab Famous Tree

Another tree is the Prison Boab which is located in Australia.

It is a Baobab tree. It has many names. One is the Upside-Down Tree because it’s branches look like roots and it’s also just named Boab.

Derby Boab ‘Prison Tree’
Read here Inventing a Colonial Dark History: The Derby Boab ‘Prison’ Tree
Boab Trees YouTube

The Tule Tree

El Árbol del Tule (The Tule Tree) is located in Santa María del Tule, Mexico.

It is a Montezuma Cypress and it’s estimated to be 1,400 years old.

Read about the Taxodium mucronatum tree here
Mexico geography
Mexico Lapbook

Learn some facts about Mexico from National Geographic
Mexico Unit Study and Make a Fun Easy Floral Headband

Chapel Oak Famous Tree

Another famous tree is the the Chapel Oak which is located in Allouville-Bellefosse, France.

It is a huge oak with two chapels inside and a spiral staircase and looks like something out of a fairy tale.

It is one of the biggest and oldest trees in France.

Read about the Le Chêne Chapelle (The Chapel Oak)
The Peculiar Chapel Of Allouville-Bellefosse
Look at this France Unit Study

Ficus Religiosa or The Bodhi Tree

This is a kind of fig tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka which is sacred to the Buddhists. They believe Buddha gained “bodhi” or enlightenment while sitting under it and meditating.

You can read about the fig tree here.
Geography for Kids about Sri Lanka

The Famous and Historic General Sherman Tree

In the Sequoia National Park in California is the General Sherman or a giant sequoia.

The giant sequoias are very special because they are among the oldest and largest living things on earth

. The General Sherman Tree, found in Sequoia National Park, is the largest living thing on earth.

It is 274.9 feet tall, has a circumference (4.5 ft. above the base) of 83.2 feet, a base circumference of 102.6 feet, and a volume of nearly 58,000 cubic feet.

Read about the General Sherman here
12 page lesson plan
Our Giant Sequoia Forests 12 page beautiful download

The largest trees in the world
The Giant Sequoia curriculum pdf

MORE Famous and Historic Trees of the World

There are other trees to read about like

Anne Frank’s Chestnut Tree
Isaac Newton’s Apple Tree (Woolsthorpe, England)
Dueling Oaks in New Orleans, Louisiana
The Major Oak, Sherwood Forest, England
and the Emancipation Oak (Hampton, Virginia).

Study Tree Art

Add some beautiful art to your study about historic trees. Read about Joseph Farrington and his The Oak Tree. Read about Paul Cezanne and his Forest art.

Also read about Georges Seurat and The Morning Walk.

Also, look at Hands-On Literature Nature Study: Simple Tree Craft.

Tree Poetry

Learning and memorizing poetry about trees could also be copywork or to make nature journals.

Loveliest of Trees, The Cherry Now by A. E. Housman

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.

Binsey Poplars by Gerard Manley Hopkins

My aspens dear, whose airy cages quelled,
   Quelled or quenched in leaves the leaping sun,
   All felled, felled, are all felled;
     Of a fresh and following folded rank
                Not spared, not one
                That dandled a sandalled
         Shadow that swam or sank
On meadow and river and wind-wandering weed-winding bank.
   O if we but knew what we do
          When we delve or hew—
     Hack and rack the growing green!
           Since country is so tender
     To touch, her being só slender,
     That, like this sleek and seeing ball
     But a prick will make no eye at all,
     Where we, even where we mean
                To mend her we end her,
           When we hew or delve:
After-comers cannot guess the beauty been.
   Ten or twelve, only ten or twelve
      Strokes of havoc únselve
           The sweet especial scene,
      Rural scene, a rural scene,
      Sweet especial rural scene.

The Way through the Woods by Rudyard Kipling

They shut the road through the woods
      Seventy years ago.
Weather and rain have undone it again,
      And now you would never know
There was once a road through the woods
      Before they planted the trees.
It is underneath the coppice and heath,
      And the thin anemones.

Only the keeper sees
That, where the ring-dove broods,
And the badgers roll at ease,
There was once a road through the woods.

Yet, if you enter the woods
      Of a summer evening late,
When the night-air cools on the trout-ringed pools
      Where the otter whistles his mate,
(They fear not men in the woods,
      Because they see so few.)
You will hear the beat of a horse’s feet,
      And the swish of a skirt in the dew,
      Steadily cantering through
The misty solitudes,
      As though they perfectly knew
      The old lost road through the woods.
But there is no road through the woods.

Famous and Historic Trees of the World Lapbook

Too, I’ve created this fun famous and historic trees lapbook to use with this fun unit study.

Awesome features of my lapbooks.

Aimed at elementary to high school.
This is a .pdf instant downloadable product and not a physical product.
You are paying for the printables, the lapbook.
My lapbooks are created for multiple ages. I aimed for elementary to high school for this lapbook. One of my reasons for aiming this lapbook for the upper grades is that I use a cursive font for the minibooks filled in with information.
Most of the minibooks have facts which accompany the minibook and a lot of the minibook are offered two ways. One way where your child uses the facts already provided by the minibook filled in and another way where your child can add his own research and not use the inside pages. Blank pages are provided for your student’s research.
You can use any reference materials, books, or online resources to complete the lapbook.
I don’t provide links in the lapbooks for filling out the information. This keeps my prices low for my products, but I do try to provide free links on my site as I can.
Because I have been a working homeschool mom for more of my journey than not, I need flexibility for using lapbooks. Proving a few facts from the main resource I use is one way I have of saving you time and giving you flexibility in how to use the minibooks.
Too, some of your kids may be older and you want them to do more research and some of your kids may be reluctant writers so you may want to mix and match pre-filled minibooks with blank minibooks. Flexibility is the key to my lapbooks.

MY GUARANTEE: To treat you like I want to be treated which means I know at times technical problems may cause glitches, so I will do everything possible to make your experience here pleasant. I value your business and value you as a follower. I stand behind my products because they are actual products I use and benefit from too. Though I cannot refund purchases after you have been given access to them, I will do what I can to be sure you are a pleased customer. Read carefully what you get on your digital download. If you have questions, email me FIRST at tina homeschools AT gmail DOT com.

Dynamic Famous and Historic Trees Lapbook for Multiple Ages
$4.00 Add to cart

More Tree Facts

Also, you’ll love these resources for studying about each of these varieties of trees.

Where do trees get their mass from YouTube
Parts of tree

You’ll love these other studies:

Free Ancient China Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History

February 25, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have a free Ancient China lapbook with some hands-on history ideas. Also, you’ll love my other Homeschool Lapbook Ideas on my page.

I’m sharing my complete lapbook Ancient China lapbook along with some hands-on history ideas.

I had a few minibooks already, so I incorporated them into this unit.

And learning about ancient civilizations makes for interesting segues into your history day.

Free Ancient China Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History

When you focus on an ancient civilization like Ancient China in depth it makes history much livelier.

Besides whom wants to just color maps.

When learning about the culture, flora and fauna and history of the people, children can connect with history.

Ancient China Books for Kids

Also, I used living books as much as possible so kids can learn about history in a story form.

In addition, we use reference books to help us locate geographical features and learn other things about an area.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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)

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.

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

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)

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.

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.

Facts About Ancient China

Han Chinese were the original people of China.
The oldest religion in China is ancestor worship but there were other religions too like Confucianism based on the teachings of Confucius. Taoism is another religion.
Next the cultivation of silkworms to obtain silk for weaving.
At first silk was expensive and only the wealthiest wore it. But about 200 B.C. soldiers and other people were wearing silk. And then even poor people wore silk.
Then ancient Chinese wrote on bamboo and wood, then silk. Paper was invented in China about 105 A.D.
Education was important in Ancient China. Boys usually went to school at the age of seven. If their parents were rich, they hired a tutor. They learned to write 20 Chinese characters a day.
Girls were not usually sent to school. They learned to spin, weave, and embroider. They helped their mothers at home.

Children learn to write calligraphy. It was a great art because there were thousands of symbols each representing a different idea.

Chinese writing has hardly changed over 2,000 years.

More Homeschool Lapbook Ideas

In addition, look at this Ancient Chinese inventions on hub page to see what they invented.

Moreover, look at these other ideas for hands-on history.

Hands-on History for Kids Learning About Ancient China

Topics in Free Ancient China Lapbook

Look at these minibooks which are included in the free download.

Use them all or mix/match with other activities your child wants to include in the lapbook.

Early Chinese Dynasties
History of Silk
Where the Ancient Chinese
Did You Know . .
Growing Up in Ancient China
Shang Warrios
Shang Script
Food of Ancient China
Confucius

How to Get the Free Ancient China Lapbook

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

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) Sign up on my email list to get my emails in your inbox AND this freebie.

2) Grab the freebie.

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Amazing Hands-on History Activities for 14 Ancient Empires (free notebook cover too)

February 10, 2024 | 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

You’ll love these hands-on history activities for ancient empires. Also, there are more Ancient Civilization hands-on ideas on my page.

Over the years I have shared my passion for hands-on history activities.

They breathe life into lifeless events of the past.

Amazing Hands-on History Activities for 14 Ancient Empires (free notebook cover too)

So when planning our year end history co-op, I decided to use the Great Empires Activity Study.

It is an activity study by Home School in the Woods.

Why? Because of the scope of empires that the Great Empires Activity Study covers.

Your kids will love these hands-on history activities for 14 Ancient Empires.Great Empires Activity Study by Home School in the Woods covers fourteen empires:

I was given this product for free. ALL opinions are my own and I will always tell you what is on my mind. When I do accept a product it’s because I’m giddy to tell you about it. Read my full disclosure here. Now on to the fun stuff!

Hands-on History Activities Ancient Empires

Ancient China
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome
Arab-Muslims,
English Empire
French Empire
German Empire
Japanese Empire
Mongols
Russian Empire
Spanish Empire
United States and
Viking.

I decided to cover a little about each of these empires through hands-on projects.

Organizing and assigning hands-on projects for our Great Empires co-op was easy.

The information is laid out simply. After reviewing the download, you’ll see the files organized by master, texts and projects.

The projects page for each empire, I found extremely useful in wading through all of the excellent material.

The project page is like your weekly lesson plan at a glance page.

And the master is your lesson plan for the day. The master pages include a helpful teacher’s key reference. It is a map marked with key areas, boundaries and other helpful features for each region covered by that empire.

Ancient Empires Study for Kids

Glancing at the project page, we could select all the hands-on activities that we wanted to do.

Then find them among the 107 master pages.

Too, background information on each empire is vital in covering the topics like we did because we wanted to savor a morsel of each empire. The text pages for each empire are 2-3 pages. However, one gem about the text pages is that they cover the empire at its height.

Non-history loving folks are turned off by many details. A quagmire of details drains the life out of learning history.

Unsure of which invention, event or key point to highlight, a budding history buff may come away more confused.

However, the text pages by Home School in the Woods shaves off non-essential details for the elementary age child but builds appreciation by covering key events that are significant for each civilization.

If you are a give-me-the-facts-only type of person, you will enjoy reading about each empire in the condensed text because you won’t come away feeling overwhelmed.

Ancient Empires Study for Kids

Beyond covering key events for each empire or covering significant inventions, the text unifies the past to the present.

Your child comes away with a better understanding of the impact previous civilizations made in today’s world. Keeping it simple without being boring makes the text a nifty feature.

However, if you already have a basic framework of history knowledge and want to explore beyond that foundation, you will enjoy the additional reading suggestions in each projects page and the extensive links found in the text which directs you to a website page at Home School in the Woods.

Easily, you could spend a week on each empire.

Because the Great Empires Activity Study is about exploring, discovering and hands-on learning, you will find plenty of activities for each empire from making scones when learning about the English empire to making an Egyptian cartouche.

Activities vary with each empire from learning about history through cooking, painting pottery like the Greeks and printing minibooks about famous people to Japanese kiragami.

You will not find cheesy analogies of history clip art in this product.

All of the clip art, projects and pictures have amazing detail. If you are a non-artsy person you will enjoy assembling the easy to do projects because a lot of them are printable.

You decide if you want to color or not.Here is what I find most appealing about this product:

Hands-on History Projects

The scope of empires covered. If you have been lagging behind in covering history topics or are trying to follow the 4 year cycle used by a lot of homeschoolers and it is going slower than you would like to, using Great Empires Activity Study would be a useful tool if you want a bird’s-eye view.
It can be a stand-alone history curriculum. You have the option with additional reading material listed in the projects pages and links provided by Home School in the Woods to extend each empire. With the abundance of reading recommendations and because we love history, I personally would take two weeks to cover each empire if I were using this as a stand-alone curriculum. Doing one hands-on activity per week would not be overly time consuming and you could easily end up with a year’s worth of history. What a bargain for the price and you are using it for all of your children.
Adding in an activity to enrich your reading. Then Great Empires Activity Study would be a nice fit.
Great Empires Activity Study allowed a lot of room for flexibility in our co-op setting because it allowed each family to focus on the topic that interested them.
History clip art matters to me because pictures are important in history. The fine detail and high quality pictures can be used for a timeline, history notebook or to add to a lapbook.
Many of the creative activities can be printed. They do not involve a lot of teacher supervision or tons of crafty artsy items on hand to do them.
The constant in all the empires is the beautiful teacher’s key map. Providing a key map for each empire is like having a mini geography curriculum as a bonus.

If you’re wanting to breathe life into homeschool history, your kids will love these hands-on learning history activities for studying 14 Great Empires! CLICK HERE to look at these fun and engaging hands-on ideas!

I feel that persons can vary tremendously on what each one thinks is a disadvantage in a product. I prefer using the word considerations because it gives you pause for thought to see if your circumstances fit that product.

Ancient Empire History Projects

Considerations for this product would be:

There is not a lesson planning guide or checklist for each day’s activities. For some homeschoolers that may feel like freedom to explore and breathe but for others having a to-do checklist each day may feel a bit more secure.
Some of these activities are ones that history lovers may have already done. However, the product is aimed at elementary age..

How to Get the Free History Notebook cover

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

When you sign up to follow me, you get access to this freebie.

1) Sign up on my email list.
2) Grab the printable.
3) Last, look for my emails in your inbox as a follower. Glad to have you.

You know I have to organize most products I get and this one was no different. I have created a printable for you to use as cover page for your binder when covering these empires.Home School in the Woods is an excellent example of showing how history does not have to involve a textbook or always acquiring random uninteresting facts.

With background information on each past civilization and several creative activities you won’t be disappointed with Great Empires Activity Study.

Whether you are studying about the legends of Crete or are exploring the adventures of Captain John Smith, adding in hands-on history along with a huge dose of field trips and a history co-op or two is a sure way to making learning about the past meaningful.

You’ll also love these other helpful posts with activities:

How to Make a Roman Costume With Kids

February 4, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I can’t wait to show you how to make a roman costume with kids for just about $3.00 and in about 5 minutes. Also, you love my ideas here at Ancient Rome Lapbook for Kids and Fun Hands-on Ideas.

If you need a quick and cheap costume for a presentation at home or co-op, maybe even just for fun this is the easiest and inexpensive tutorial for you to try.

I took a quick trip to Dollar Tree and gathered up just 3 items, wanting to keep this as simple and low cost as possible.

Roman garb was simple, made of mostly draped fabrics.

It had very little embellishment beyond the jewelry of wealthier women that included earrings, necklaces, tiaras, and bracelets.

Creating a Roman costume is a fun way to add a hands-on element to your Roman unit study.

There is much to learn about the fashion of the times. For example, this costume can be used as a living history lesson.

Also, use it as you peek back into days of gladiators, military conquests, and classical architecture.

While this DIY might not hold up to continuous wear, unless you use a sheet along with the instructions, it is the perfect easy craft to demonstrate fashions of the day.

What did a Roman Wear on an Average Day

Tunica- Is the most basic roman garment, the tunica was just a single rectangle of woven fabric that was later made of linen.

They consisted of a short-sleeved or sleeveless, knee-length tunics for males, and a longer, sometimes sleeved tunica for females.

It was a simple draped fabric worn with a belt for definition. Upper classes wore white, while lower classes wore natural or brown colored.

Toga– Was a piece of draped cloth in a semi-circle shape with no fastener and the bulk of the fabric was held draped over the arm.

Foreigners, slaves, and exiled Romans were forbidden from wearing them.

Stola- The stola was a long, pleated, sleeveless robe made of linen wool and silk for wealthy women.

It was worn by Roman wives as a symbol of their woman’s marital status.

Undergarments-Underneath these draped garments both sexes wore a form of underwear that consisted of a loincloth, like briefs.

Women would also wear a breast band beneath. Between undergarments and the rougher outer draped garment, they would wear soft tunics.

Shoes- Most commonly on their feet they wore sandals.

A light shoe of leather or woven papyrus leaves held on by a simple strap across the top.

Laurel Wreath- These were worn around the head as a sign of victory in pursuits of sports, music, and poetry.

Also, they signified victory in battle but were not worn typically in the day to day.

Books About Ancient Rome for Kids

Next, look at some of these books about Ancient Rome to add to your library.

I lean toward living books when I can find them. Then, I add in reference books for more information to the topic.

20 Ancient Rome Resources. Books, Pop Up, Coloring & Hands-on Figurines

Whether you're doing a unit study or want to dig deeper about Ancient Rome, you'll love adding a resource or two.

Famous Men of Rome

The Romans were history's great men of action, making the study of Rome ideal for beginners of all ages, but especially for younger students, who are fascinated by the abundant action and drama of Roman history. In addition, an understanding of modern political history is impossible without a thorough understanding of Rome. There are thirty stories covering the history of Rome from its founding under Romulus to the last emperor in the West. Your children will see the rise and fall of a great civilization through the lives of Horatius, Camillus, Caesar, Cicero, Marcus Aurelius, and many other larger-than-life figures. Rome is the model civilization, the mastery of which provides a foundation for all other history study.

Ancient Rome for Kids through the Lives of its Heroes, Emperors, and Philosophers (History for Kids - Story Format)

When I first discovered that my 8-year-old kid believed that the adventures of Odysseus were the actual history of ancient Greece, I panicked and bought him a stack of children's history books. I sat by his side as he started reading about the class structure of Athens and the economic underpinnings of the Greek polis. He yawned. He asked for candy... and then for the Disney Channel...Kids like stories. And when it comes to history, they learn from stories, not from dense paragraphs about the phases of the Bronze age, the location of trade routes, or the injustices of the social order here and there.This book follows the old-fashioned, story-based, traditional route of teaching history - through tales of heroes and kings, with no tribute paid to modern economic and social perspectives. Culture is memes. And that means historical figures, and anecdotes about them. To write this book, I went back to Tacitus, Livy, Suetonius, Cassius Dio, Valerius Maximus, Josephus, Eusebius, Theodoret, and other ancient sources of biographical anecdotes, and extracted from them the stories that will be most memorable to a modern kid

Theras and His Town

Young Theras, born an Athenian, is taken to Sparta by a relative when his father is lost at war. He is forced to live like a Spartan, a brutal life with no pity for those who are not physically perfect and totally obedient to Spartan control. After enduring rigorous training and repeated cruel incidents, he escapes with a Perioikoi boy and heads for his beloved Athens. Here is the story of a hard and dangerous journey with Snedeker's amazing historical accuracy.

Tools of the Ancient Romans: A Kid's Guide to the History & Science of Life in Ancient Rome (Build It Yourself)

Tools of the Ancient Greeks: A Kid’s Guide to the History and Science of Life in Ancient Greece explores the scientific discoveries, athletic innovations, engineering marvels, and innovative ideas created more than two thousand years ago. Through biographical sidebars, interesting facts, fascinating anecdotes, and fifteen hands-on activities, readers will learn how Greek innovations and ideas have shaped world history and our own world view.

Detectives in Togas

In these two delightful history-mysteries, seven boys in Ancient Rome solve strange crimes . . . thanks to some help from their cranky teacher, a little bit of logic, and a lot of amusing misadventure.

The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Rome: A Handbook for Time Travelers (The Thrifty Guides)

The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Rome contains information vital to the sensible time traveler: • Where can I find a decent hotel room in ancient Rome for under five sesterces a day? Is horse parking included? • What do I do if I’m attacked by barbarians? • What are my legal options if I’m fed to the lions at the Colosseum? All this is answered and more. There is handy advice on finding the best picnicking spots to watch Julius Caesar’s assassination at the Roman Forum in 44 BC, as well as helpful real estate tips to profit from the great Roman fire of AD 64. There are even useful recommendations on which famous historical figures to meet for lunch, and a few nifty pointers on how to avoid being poisoned, beheaded, or torn apart by an angry mob.

Time Traveler

Takes readers back in time to illustrate the exciting happenings of daily life

The Bronze Bow: A Newbery Award Winner

Daniel bar Jamin will stop at nothing to seek revenge for his father's death at the hands of the Roman Empire.After Daniel bar Jamin's father is crucified by the Roman Empire, Daniel wants nothing more than to rid his land of Israel of Roman control once and for all. Yet when David meets Jesus of Nazareth, a traveling carpenter with a gentle message of love and forgiveness, David starts to realize that the hate festering in his heart might be his true enemy after all.

Eyewitness Ancient Rome: Discover One of History's Greatest Civilizations

From Roman emperors and gods and goddesses to soldiers and gladiators, step into the exciting world of ancient Rome.Who were Rome's most famous emperors? What was everyday life like for a soldier in the Roman army? How did the citizens of ancient Rome live? Did gladiators really fight to the death in the mighty Colosseum? Find out the answers to all these questions, and many more, in Eyewitness: Ancient Rome.

SuperToob: Ancient Rome

Use these fun figurines for art study, for a sensory bin for younger kids or for art inspiration.

Life in Ancient Rome Coloring Book (Dover Ancient History Coloring Books)

At the peak of its power, the Roman Empire stretched thousands of miles in all directions: north to what today is England, westward to Spain, to Armenia in the east, and Egypt in the south. The growth, development, and cultural achievements of that magnificent civilization are brought to life by the artist John Green in this exciting and fact-filled coloring book.

The Romans Pop-Up: Pop-up Book to Make Yourself

There are 6 scenes to make in this book - combining the pleasure of seeing them pop up with interesting information and ideas. There are a number of mini popups as well. Close the book and they fold away. Open it and they popup again. These vivid, colorful three-dimensional scenes help to bring Ancient Civilisations to life in a way which no other kind of book can. Scenes: The City of Rome, The Forum, The Roman House, The Army of Rome, Entertainment, Ostia - the Port of Rome.

Attack at the Arena

Patrick and Beth learn that Mr. Whittaker’s fancy ring can be seen inside the Imagination Station but not outside of the machine. A mysterious letter leads the cousins to fifth-century Rome in search of a special cup that belongs to a monk. If found, the cup could keep the mysterious Albert out of prison.At the Roman Colosseum, Emperor Honorius is hosting a gladiator battle in celebration of a war victory. Beth attends the event as the emperor’s slave; Patrick attends as a monk’s apprentice but is taken prisoner and sent to fight in the arena. During their adventure, the cousins meet Telemachus (a true historical figure), a monk who believes that fighting is wrong. Telemachus is willing to risk everything―even his life―to stop the killing. When the cousins return with the cup, they find that a third letter has been sent with more information about Albert’s fate.

Growing Up In Ancient Rome

Describes daily life in ancient Rome, discussing family life, entertainment, schools, religion, and other aspects.

The Story of the Romans: A History of Ancient Rome for Young Readers - its Legends, Military and Culture as a Republic and Empire

Who Were the Romans? (Starting Point History)

This series consists of simple illustrated guides to answer children's questions about history and invite comparisons with life today. This particular title deals with the Romans.

In the Daily Life of the Ancient Romans (Gods & Goddesses Of...)

This exciting new series explores ancient life by examining the traditions and religious beliefs of each culture. Through photographs, illustrations, and cut-away, detailed diagrams, each book considers the way religious beliefs affected everything from food, drink, and entertainment to rituals surrounding birth and death

Science in Ancient Rome (Science of the Past)

Describes how the Romans put to use and expanded the scientific achievements of earlier civilizations.

Roman Empire: Rise & The Fall. Explore The History, Mythology, Legends, Epic Battles & Lives Of The Emperors, Legions, Heroes, Gladiators & More

The Roman Empire may have fallen thousands of years ago, but the lessons and the legacy left behind lives on to this day

From a tiny settlement on the banks of the Tiber River, Rome grew into a colossal, unstoppable force. At its peak, The Empire dominated the world from Europe, West Asia, North Africa, and many more territories.

Never again would the world see such an influential power.

In this epic narrative, History Brought Alive presents an intriguing dive into Roman History, Legends, Facts, Myths and much more. Covering thousands of years the study of Roman history is vast and complex. Much like the Ancient Romans themselves, in order to study them, we need to follow structure and have an open mind.

See Inside Ancient Rome

Visit the world of ancient Rome, from bustling streets and the busy port to steaming baths and gruesome games. This book reveals how the Romans really lived.

7 Ancient Roman Fashion and Architecture Ideas

This fun idea from The Journey Through Time #2 Back In Time Ancient Rome Fun Mosaic is a wonderful way to depict the profile of a Roman Soldier.
Learn about Making Mortar And Concrete And The Roman Arch and create a piece of historical architecture.
Try your hand at learning How to Make an Easy Roman Helmet & Shield & A Set of Printable Wings to go along with your unit.
Make the Geronimo Stilton Adventures The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Colosseum Craft) to depict a scaled down version of the large amphitheater. It was used for chariot races and gladiator combat.
Turn a basic pair of flip flops into these Easy DIY Gladiator Sandals with this YouTube tutorial.
How to Make an Ancient Rome-Inspired DIY Clown Collar No Sew.
Ancient Rome (Hands-on History): Paint a Jester

Finally, how to make a Roman costume with kids.

How to Make a Roman Costume

To make something more durable you can spend about $10 and use these same instructions with a white sheet and colored fabric for the belt and headpiece.

You will need:

White plastic tablecloth
Gold tablecloth
Wide plastic headband
Scissors
Craft glue

First, cut a 4’-5’ length of the gold tablecloth that is 6” wide and fold it in half.

Next cut a bunch of simple leaf shapes out of the gold tablecloth.

Use glue to attach them all the way around, making them a little haphazard. Overlap the ends a bit and cover it well.

Allow to dry completely by hanging it over something so that the leaves don’t become creased up.

Unfold the white tablecloth and fold the length in half. Cut 1 ½” to 2’ feet off one side depending on the size of your child’s shoulders.

Cut a V shape down the center several inches down and across roughly 8” to make a neck hole.

Drape over your child’s head and trim as needed across the bottom to get the length you want. Cinch the belt and let the ends hang down.

Finish it off by placing the headband on the back of the head with the points toward the forehead to create the golden laurel crown.

You can add a colored drape over the shoulder if you like to add some color like a regal red or purple.

history resources

Kids Books about Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece Go Fish Game

Hands on History

More Ancient Greece Hands-on Activities

How to Get the Free Ancient Greece Lapbook 2 & Go Fish Ancient Greece

Famous and Historic Trees

Science of Trees

MORE TREE CRAFTS

Learning about the Methuselah Tree

Moon Trees

Famous Scythe Tree

Prison Boab Famous Tree

The Tule Tree

Chapel Oak Famous Tree

Ficus Religiosa or The Bodhi Tree

The Famous and Historic General Sherman Tree

MORE Famous and Historic Trees of the World

Study Tree Art

Tree Poetry

Famous and Historic Trees of the World Lapbook

Dynamic Famous and Historic Trees Lapbook for Multiple Ages

More Tree Facts

Ancient China Books for Kids

Facts About Ancient China

More Homeschool Lapbook Ideas

Hands-on History for Kids Learning About Ancient China

Topics in Free Ancient China Lapbook

How to Get the Free Ancient China Lapbook

Hands-on History Activities Ancient Empires

Ancient Empires Study for Kids

Ancient Empires Study for Kids

Hands-on History Projects

Ancient Empire History Projects

How to Get the Free History Notebook cover

What did a Roman Wear on an Average Day

Books About Ancient Rome for Kids

7 Ancient Roman Fashion and Architecture Ideas

How to Make a Roman Costume

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