history

The Journey Through Time Geronimo Stilton Time Warp Fun Lost City of Atlantis

December 12, 2022 | 1 Comment
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The Journey Through Time Geronimo Stilton Seventh Journey Time Warp is our next book for adventure. And we’re doing a fun Lost City of Atlantis craft. Be sure to grab more Geronimo Stilton Books ideas and crafts on my page.

This time we are going to visit mythical Atlantis with our favorite globetrotting mouse in Geronimo Stilton Time Warp The Seventh Journey Through Time.

We are going to do it with a magical diorama that lets your child create their own version of the magical city to go along with the reading.

The Journey Through Time Geronimo Stilton Time Warp Fun Lost City of Atlantis

Geronimo finds himself underwater this time in The Time Tentacle 2000 in the lost city of Atlantis.

He speculates about their clothing guessing that it was similar to ancient Greek tunics.

And he shares about the 10 kings of Atlantis who descended from Poseidon, visits the ornate gold palace, and enjoys a banquet with royalty.

Benefits of Introducing Myths, Legends and Fairytales

Also, I know I usually stick to history and reality but there is much to be said about the benefits of imagination, fairy tales, legends and myths.

For example, legends, folktales, and myths:

can teach children about emotional resilience by helping them to connect fictional stories to real life people and circumstances.
help children to deal with adversity by learning to believe in themselves to overcome obstacles and challenges.
help children confront real-life fears and anxieties in a wonderful fantastical setting that makes it easier to deal with.
develop a child’s imagination.
are full of rich insights into humanity and history.
cultivate an appreciation and understanding of other cultures.
open the door to learning about why people came to believe them.

In addition, mythology whether it comes from the Roman Empire, the Greek or the Egyptian region is a part of teaching within language arts.

Stories and myths and names of characters helps to promote vocabulary skills and heightens a child’s interest in following story lines.

About the Lost City of Atlantis

The Lost City of Atlantis is a myth which may have started in Egypt, survived in classical Greek writings, and then emerged in medieval traditions by Arabian geographers

Supposedly, Atlantis disappeared into the sea as a result of earthquakes and floods.

Some historians think suggest that this myth had its roots in the volcanic explosion of Santorini.

And your child will love reading about the Lost City of Atlantis.

Other Geronimo Stilton Chapter Book Activities

Next, look at these other crafts to go with the books.

Now, dioramas are meant to be free form and totally creatively led by your child,.

Use what supplies you have with maybe a couple of special items added.

However, I will give you some loose directions to help get you going.

If you don’t have them on hand already you can get most of the supplies at Dollar Tree.

I grabbed even my cardboard box here, the castle cut out in the unfinished wood craft and the sand.

Too, they carry seashells in the floral aisle as well as paint, and glitter.

Finally, look below at how to make your own diorama.

How to Make A Mythical Lost City of Atlantis Diorama

You will need:

A cardboard box
A castle cut out (Dollar Tree) or you can draw a simple one on cardstock or cardboard and cut it out.
Paint and glitter
Sand
Assorted seashells
Plastic ocean animals
Hot glue gun/glue sticks
Safari LTD Mythical Realms Toob

These mats are fantastic for craft projects, they are easy to clean, safe and are a good way to keep your kitchen table free from paint, hot glue, and other craft messes.

Directions:

The first thing to do is to tape up or hot glue the bottom of the box.

I folded it so there was more coverage rather than like you would for support if shipping something and glued it well.

Next, cut off the flaps on one end except for one, and the larger side of the box to create a 3 walled structure with a floor base.

This gives your child plenty of open space for creativity.

Paint the inside or cover it in blue tissue paper or construction paper to give it a water like look.

You don’t have to paint the bottom unless your child wants to. We will cover it up with sand in a bit. Allow your paint to dry completely.

Next, paint a thick coat of glue on the base and sprinkle generously with sand.

Additionally, you could also use table salt to get the same look.

While you are waiting for the glue to dry paint your castle gold and add glitter if you like.

We added a little more texture to the castle with some hot glue and pressed more glitter into it while the glue is still wet.

Create some depth to your diorama by not just gluing your castle flat to the back but popping it out instead.

How to Make a Cardboard Castle

Too, you can hot glue anything thick to the back to separate it from the back of the box.

I cut several squares of cardboard roughly the same size and glued them together and then to the back.

Now the really fun part for us was creating coral and other undersea items from hot glue.

This is a good introduction to the glue gun for kids because there is really no need for their fingers to get near the glue until it is completely cooled.

All you do is squeeze out the glue and make underwater shapes on your silicone mat or waxed paper.

Make sure that each piece is connected and thick enough that it can support itself upright.

Create grassy shapes and twisting coral and let them cool for a few minutes until hard.

If you want to add glitter, sprinkle some on the glue immediately before it sets.

Or you can paint the hot glue shapes once hardened.

Peel your shapes off and make a small puddle of hot glue to create a base.

Immediately put your shapes on the base and hold until hardened or use whatever objects you can to hold them in place upright until ready.

Place your Mythical Toob figures, ocean animals, and shells around to fill up your Atlantis diorama.

Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas

December 11, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, we’re learning about Daniel Boone exploration and ideas to learn from his life. You’ll love my unit study and other ideas on my page Daniel Boone – North American Explorer.

And when you think about Daniel Boone and his life you think about his amazing skills on the frontier.

After all, he is best known for exploring and settling the area we now know as Kentucky.

Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas

He used his knowledge of the area and the skills he learned growing up to become a folk hero and create a legacy that lives on today.

What was commonplace living then is considered survival skills in today’s world.

Survival skills are something that you might want to incorporate into your child’s homeschool goals.

Survival Skill Ideas for Kids

Some things that you might want to teach them that would have been a part of the upbringing in Daniel Boone’s world are:

Building a shelter- How to gather and arrange whatever is at hand to protect themselves from the elements.
Starting a fire- Not only arranging wood but starting a fire without a lighter or matches.
Using a compass- A good skill to help them find their way in the wilderness.
Finding and filtering clean water- Knowing how to find and different methods for purifying water.
Basic First Aid- Learning to clean and care for basic emergencies.
How to use a knife-Safely handling and storing
Acquiring food- An important basic wilderness skill, identifying edible plants, making fish traps, and animal traps.
And be sure to grab my free Daniel Boone Lapbook.
Also, look at Daniel Boone: The Complete Series.

Even if you did not grow up this way teaching these skills may appeal to you, but how do you teach what you aren’t skilled in yourself?

Grab some of these resources to help you.

First, I have a Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook.

Books for Daniel Boone Unit Study & Survival Ideas

Second, one of my favorite resources to learn anything and about Daniel Boone Exploration are books.

10 Resources for A Daniel Boone Unit Study

Whether you want to add a hands-on unit study or are looking for a few resources, you'll love one of these.

1. Daniel Boone: The Life and Legend of an American Pioneer

Struggle against the Shawnee defenders of Kentucky. Drawing from popular narrative, public record, documentation from Boone's own hand, and recollection gathered by 19th-century antiquarians, the author employs the methods of the new social history to produce a portrait that defines Daniel Boone and the times he helped shape.

2. Who Was Daniel Boone? (Who Was?)

Called the "Great Pathfinder", Daniel Boone is most famous for opening up the West to settlers through Kentucky. A symbol of America's pioneering spirit Boone was a skilled outdoorsman and an avid reader although he never attended school. Sydelle Kramer skillfully recounts Boone's many adventures such as the day he rescued his own daughter from kidnappers.

3. The Dangerous Book for Boys

The bestselling book—more than 1.5 million copies sold—for every boy from eight to eighty, covering essential boyhood skills such as building tree houses, learning how to fish, finding true north, and even answering the age old question of what the big deal with girls is—now a Prime Original Series created by Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Greg Mottola (Superbad).

In this digital age, there is still a place for knots, skimming stones and stories of incredible courage. This book recaptures Sunday afternoons, stimulates curiosity, and makes for great father-son activities. The brothers Conn and Hal have put together a wonderful collection of all things that make being young or young at heart fun—building go-carts and electromagnets, identifying insects and spiders, and flying the world's best paper airplanes.

4. Willy Whitefeather's Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids

From treating a bee sting to building an overnight shelter, kids will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to survive outdoors.All ages

5. Daniel Boone: Frontiersman (Heroes of History)

Written for readers age 10 and up -- enjoyed by adults!In search of open spaces and land to call his own, Daniel Boone fearlessly led a band of brave settlers into the bountiful Kentucky wilderness. Daniel's expert hunting ability, incredible outdoor survival skills, and courage under fire helped his companions stay alive in a dangerous and unknown land despite threatening encounters with soldiers, Indians, and even other settlers.

6. History Pockets: Explorers of North America, Grades 4-6+

The book includes the following pockets:

Introduction to Explorers of North America
Christopher Columbus
John Cabot
Hernando Cortes
Jacques Cartier
Sir Francis Drake
Henry Hudson
Daniel Boone
James Cook
Lewis and Clark
John Wesley Powell

7. Daniel Boone: Trailblazer

Born in Pennsylvania in 1734, Daniel Boone cut a path west, carving his name into trees. Although he endured repeated property losses, he became a household name and was greatly admired for his surveying skills and the many claims he laid, opening the west for further settlement.

8. Survive & Thrive: A Pocket Guide To Wilderness Safety Skills, Plus 16 Quick-Check Skill Cards

Gear up for outdoor adventure, learn to stay alive, and help yourself thrive – feeling confident that you can handle whatever comes your way!

Accidents happen and nature can be unpredictable, which is why this ultra-portable survival kit is a must-have for casual nature explorers and slightly more adventurous campers in need of essential outdoor guidance that they can carry along with them.

9. Bear Grylls The Complete Adventures Collection 12 Books Set

Titles In This Set:The Blizzard ChallengeThe Desert ChallengeThe Jungle ChallengeThe Sea ChallengeThe River ChallengeThe Earthquake ChallengeThe Volcano ChallengeThe Safari ChallengeThe Cave ChallengeThe Mountain ChallengeThe Arctic ChallengeThe Sailing Challenge

10. Daniel Boone: Young Hunter and Tracker (Childhood of Famous Americans)

A general account of the life of the prominent American frontiersman who is especially remembered for helping to settle Kentucky

Then learn about how a compass works.

How a Compass Works

Here is a bit of science,

How does this work? A needle is made from steel which contains iron.

When you stroke the needle on the magnet the iron particles are magnetized. It only works temporarily, but you do get to see a cool effect of a needle working like a compass.

The metals iron, steel, nickel and cobalt are magnetic.

Now, a compass works by detecting and responding to the Earth’s natural magnetic fields – always pointing north.

Earth’s core is made of iron that is part liquid and part solid crystal.

The movement of the liquid core produces the earth’s magnetic field.

Now, look at these easy directions in how to make a compass.

How to Make a Compass

You will need:

Small cork
Fine sharpie
A needle
A Small cup
Water
A magnet

The first thing you want to do is slice off a piece of the cork about ¼” thick.

Slide the needle through the center of the cork, it helps to use a pair of needle nose pliers rather than trying to do it with your bare fingers.

Next rub the pointed tip of the needle back and forth across the magnet 25-30 times to magnetize it.

Fill a small jar about ⅔ full of water and place your compass in the water, the needle will point north/south.

You can use a real compass or a compass on your phone to test and be sure which direction is north to prove it.

Use a fine point sharpie to mark North, South, East, and West on the cork.

Place it back into the jar of water.

Remember you will need to re-magnetize it for each use.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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1) Sign up on my list.
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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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.