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lapbook

Free Lapbook Mexico For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning

October 7, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free lapbook Mexico for your kids who love hands-on history. Also, look at my page Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning for more lapbook ideas.

Also, look at my free Mexico unit study.

A lapbook about Mexico is a fun creative hands-on tool to fold in many subjects like geography, history, language arts and culture.

Free Lapbook Mexico For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning

Too, a lapbook utilizes essential skills like summarizing, paraphrasing and note taking.

Besides, most kids do not find worksheets inspiring. With a lapbook, a student can add their creativity.

Your kids can use my premade minibooks or create their own minibooks. Also for many of my lapbooks, we do a mix and match of premade and create your own minibooks.

My kids used part of what I put together and the other part is what they wanted. This also works because there are facts that I want my kids to learn.

Mix and match style allows me to still guide them if information I deem is important for them to learn.

BOOKS FOR KIDS ABOUT MEXICO

First, look at these books about Mexico.

I prefer living books when we can find them.

10 Mexico Books & Resources For Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

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

The Underdogs: A Novel of the Mexican Revolution (Penguin Classics)

The Underdogs is the first great novel about the first great revolution of the twentieth century. Demetrio Macias, a poor, illiterate Indian, must join the rebels to save his family. Courageous and charismatic, he earns a generalship in Pancho Villa’s army, only to become discouraged with the cause after it becomes hopelessly factionalized. At once a spare, moving depiction of the limits of political idealism, an authentic representation of Mexico’s peasant life, and a timeless portrait of revolution, The Underdogs is an iconic novel of the Latin American experience and a powerful novel about the disillusionment of war.

Stories from Mexico

Tales from Mexican folklore including The Palace of Canela, In Through the Window, The Coyote and the Sheep, The Cu Bird, and SenÄor Coyote and Juan's Maguey.

Adelita

Hace mucho tiempo—a long time ago—there lived a beautiful young woman named Adelita. So begins the age-old tale of a kindhearted young woman, her jealous stepmother, two hateful stepsisters, and a young man in search of a wife. The young man, Javier, falls madly in love with beautiful Adelita, but she disappears from his fiesta at midnight, leaving him with only one clue to her hidden identity: a beautiful rebozo—shawl. With the rebozo in place of a glass slipper, this favorite fairy tale takes a delightful twist. Tomie dePaola's exquisite paintings, filled with the folk art of Mexico, make this a Cinderella story like no other.

Hill Of Fire (I Can Read, Book 3) (I Can Read Level 3)

Every day is the same for Pablo's father. Then one afternoon the ground growls, hisses smoke, and swallows up his plow. A volcano is erupting in the middle of his cornfield!

Mexico in Story and Pictures

Imagine

Have you ever imagined what you might be when you grow up? When he was very young, Juan Felipe Herrera picked chamomile flowers in windy fields and let tadpoles swim across his hands in a creek. He slept outside and learned to say good-bye to his amiguitoseach time his family moved to a new town. He went to school and taught himself to read and write English and filled paper pads with rivers of ink as he walked down the street after school. And when he grew up, he became the United States Poet Laureate and read his poems aloud on the steps of the Library of Congress. If he could do all of that . . . what could you do? With this illustrated poem of endless possibility, Juan Felipe Herrera and Lauren Castillo breathe magic into the hopes and dreams of readers searching
for their place in life.

Old Ramon

Fun novel combining Mexico and California cultures where a young boy learns about life and growing up.

The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes

In the picture book Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes, award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh brings a cherished Mexican legend to life.A Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor BookALA/ALSC Notable Children’s Book! “A palette of earthy, evocative colors .

. . A genuine triumph.” ―Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)“Use this Aztec legend to inspire readers while teaching a bit about dramatic irony.” —School Library Journal Izta was the most beautiful princess in the land, and suitors traveled from far and wide to woo her. Even though she was the daughter of the emperor, Izta had no desire to marry a man of wealth and power. Instead, she fell in love with Popoca, a brave warrior who fought in her father’s army—and a man who did not offer her riches but a promise to stay by her side forever. The emperor did not want his daughter to marry a mere warrior, but he recognized Popoca’s bravery. He offered Popoca a deal: If the warrior could defeat their enemy, Jaguar Claw, then the emperor would permit Popoca and Izta to wed. But Jaguar Claw had a plan to thwart the warrior. Would all be lost? Today two majestic volcanoes—Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl—stand overlooking Mexico City. They have been admired and revered for countless generations and have formed the basis of many origin and creation myths.

Growing Up In Aztec Times (Growing Up In series)

Describes the daily life of the Aztecs, discussing life in the city, life in the country, education, food and drink, and other aspects.

The Tale of Rabbit and Coyote

Poor Coyote! What’s he doing, hanging upside down in the farmer’s house, next to a pot of boiling water? How’d he wind up underneath the jicara tree, getting bonked by rock-hard fruit? Who tricked him into whacking a wasps’ nest with a stick? And why is he always howling at the moon? Because of Rabbit, that’s why! Longtime collaborators Tony Johnston and Tomie dePaola look to the folklore of Oaxaca, Mexico, for this nutty, naughty tale of trickery and hijinks. Written with sly humor and illustrated in the vibrant golds, blues, and reds of the Southwest, this is a story with a flavor as distinctive as chile peppers.

Next, look at these hands-on activities about Mexico.

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES ABOUT MEXICO

  • If you want to focus on ancient civilizations of Mexico look at my page Meso-America Free Unit Study and Lapbook.
  • Easy Mexican Crafts: How to Make a Taco Craft
  • When Were Mayans Alive | The Vanishing Mayan Civilization Free Printable
  • And if you want to focus on some of the animals of Mexico look at my post Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping.
  • Frida Kahlo Art Made Simple: Free Easy Art Printable
  • Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity.
Free Lapbook Mexico For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning

Then, look at the minibooks that come in the download.

  • Plants of Mexico
  • Animals of Mexico
  • Did You Know
  • Ancient Mexico
  • Discover Mexico
  • Famous Landmrks

HOW TO GET THE FREE MEXICO LAPBOOK

Now, how to grab the freebie. 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 instantly.

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbooks Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, lapbook, lapbooking, lapbookresources, lapbooks

5 Days of Learning Printables The World of Columbus and Sons Day 4 For Middle and High School

September 15, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today’s printables in my series 5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons 5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 3 For Middle and High School Day 4 For Middle and High School are from Part I. Also, look at my page homeschool middle school and how to homeschool high school page for more fun tips

When Columbus Was a Boy (1451 – 1474), Lesson 3 and from Part II. When Columbus was in Portugal and Spain (1474 – 1492) Lesson 4.

5 Days of Learning Printables The World of Columbus and Sons Day 4 For Middle and High School

For studying Lesson 3, I prepared a minibook to tell about Ferdinand and Isabella and how they united Spain through their marriage.

For studying Part II. When Columbus was in Portugal and Spain  (1474 – 1492) Lesson 4, two more characters of that time period are introduced which are Marco Polo and Ptolemy.

5 Days of Learning Printables The World of Columbus and Sons Day 4 For Middle and High School. Today’s printables in my series 5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons 5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 3 For Middle and High School Day 4 For Middle and High School are from Part I. Also, look at my page homeschool middle school and how to homeschool high school page for more fun tips  3 free books.
5 Days of Learning Printables The World of Columbus and Sons Day 4 For Middle and High School. Today’s printables in my series 5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons 5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 3 For Middle and High School Day 4 For Middle and High School are from Part I. Also, look at my page homeschool middle school and how to homeschool high school page for more fun tips  3 free books.

And don’t forget I have a huge Renaissance Unit Study and Glass Blowing Unit Study that will enhance your study of The World of Columbus and Sons.

5 Days of Learning Printables The World of Columbus and Sons Day 4 For Middle and High School. Today’s printables in my series 5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons 5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 3 For Middle and High School Day 4 For Middle and High School are from Part I. Also, look at my page homeschool middle school and how to homeschool high school page for more fun tips  3 free books.

Renaissance 1300 to 1600 Unit Study and Glassblowing

5 Days of Learning Printables: The World of Columbus and Sons

Here are the other posts in these 5 Days of Learning Printables: The World of Columbus and Sons.

Day 1.
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 1 For Middle and High School.
Day 2.
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 2 For Middle and High School.
Day 3. 
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 3 For Middle and High School.
Day 4.
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 4 For Middle and High School.
Day 5.
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 5 For Middle and High School.

HOW TO GET THE FREE COLUMBUS MINIBOOKS

Now, how to grab the freebie. 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 instantly.

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Geography Based, History Based, Notebooking Pages Tagged With: freeprintables, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, lapbook

Free Africa Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History

September 14, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have a free Africa lapbook with some hands-on history ideas. Also, you’ll love my other Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning on my page.

Too, look at my post Free Africa Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning | Free Continent & Country Reports.

Whether you’re wanting to learn geography or are looking to expand history studies on Africa, a lapbook is a fun interactive tool to use for a hands-on learner.

Free Africa Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History

Besides, Africa is home to like 54 countries so a lapbook about Africa gives you a starting point to dive deeper into countries or cultures which interest your child.

And it’s one of the most diverse regions. For example, the languages of Swahili, Arabic and Zulu are a few of the ones spoken.

A lapbook is a good research tool for a middle and high school child because they add projects like the importance of the Sahara Desert and Nile River.

BOOKS ABOUT AFRICA FOR KIDS

Next, look at these fun books about Africa.

Add one or two to your home library.

13 Resources for Children Studying About Africa

Add one or two of these books to your study about the art of Africa.

Africa For Kids: People, Places and Cultures - Children Explore The World Books

Africa For Kids: People, Places, Culture gives children not only a peek into the land and its people but the artwork of even simple everyday items like weaving and serving plates.

Africa Coloring Book For Kids!

Here is a coloring book filled with African souvenirs to color that is soothing and a great springboard for discussion.

African Patterns Scrapbook Paper

I found this beautiful book of African Patterned Scrapbook paper that can be used for many craft projects.

Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country

Atinuke’s first non-fiction title is a major publishing event: a celebration of all 55 countries on the African continent! Her beautifully-written text captures Africa’s unique mix of the modern and the traditional, as she explores its geography, its peoples, its animals, its history, its resources and its cultural diversity. The book divides Africa into five sections: South, East, West, Central and North, each with its own introduction. This is followed by a page per country, containing a delightful mix of friendly, informative text and colourful illustrations.

Africa Is Not a Country

Enter into the daily life of children in the many countries of modern Africa. Countering stereotypes, Africa Is Not a Country celebrates the extraordinary diversity of this vibrant continent as experienced by children at home, at school, at work, and at play.

The Water Princess

With its wide sky and warm earth, Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is a beautiful land. But clean drinking water is scarce in her small African village. And try as she might, Gie Gie cannot bring the water closer; she cannot make it run clearer. Every morning, she rises before the sun to make the long journey to the well. Instead of a crown, she wears a heavy pot on her head to collect the water. After the voyage home, after boiling the water to drink and clean with, Gie Gie thinks of the trip that tomorrow will bring. And she dreams. She dreams of a day when her village will have cool, crystal-clear water of its own.

Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions (Picture Puffin Books)

Artists Leo and Diane Dillon won their second consecutive Caldecott Medal for this stunning ABC of African culture. "Another virtuoso performance. . . . Such an astute blend of aesthetics and information is admirable, the child's eye will be rewarded many times over."

When Stars Are Scattered

Omar and his brother Hassan, two Somali boys, have spent a long time in the Dadaab refugee camp. Separated from their mother, they are looked after by a friendly stranger. Life in the camp isn't always easy. The hunger is constant . . . but there's football to look forward to, and now there's a chance Omar will get to go to school . . .With a heart-wrenching fairytale ending, this incredible true story is brought to life by Victoria's stunning illustrations. This book perfectly depicts life in a refugee camp for 8-12 year olds.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Young Reader's Edition

When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season's crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family's life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William's windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land. Retold for a younger audience, this exciting memoir shows how, even in a desperate situation, one boy's brilliant idea can light up the world. Complete with photographs, illustrations, and an epilogue that will bring readers up to date on William's story, this is the perfect edition to read and share with the whole family.

Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart is the first of three novels in Chinua Achebe's critically acclaimed African Trilogy. It is a classic narrative about Africa's cataclysmic encounter with Europe as it establishes a colonial presence on the continent. Told through the fictional experiences of Okonkwo, a wealthy and fearless Igbo warrior of Umuofia in the late 1800s, Things Fall Apart explores one man's futile resistance to the devaluing of his Igbo traditions by British political andreligious forces and his despair as his community capitulates to the powerful new order. With more than 20 million copies sold and translated into fifty-seven languages, Things Fall Apart provides one of the most illuminating and permanent monuments to African experience. Achebe does not only capture life in a pre-colonial African village, he conveys the tragedy of the loss of that world while broadening our understanding of our contemporary realities.

Wildlife of East Africa (Princeton Pocket Guides, 3)

Those looking for a concise yet informative, visually breathtaking yet affordable East African safari need look no further than this spectacular field guide. Featuring full-color photos of 475 common species of bird, mammal, snake, lizard, insect, tree, and flower, Wildlife of East Africa takes us on an exquisite one-volume tour through the living splendor of the main national parks and game reserves of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Many of the species included--from pelicans to plovers, ostriches to elephants, from the daintiest of antelopes to cattlelike giants, from leopards to lions, baboons to gorillas, chameleons to crocodiles, acacias to aloes--also inhabit neighboring countries. The selection was based on the personal experiences of the authors, wildlife experts who have been leading safaris in the region for more than twenty years.

Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna

Heads up: this is a great book but there is a rite of passage and has a part about circumcision.

Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton gives American kids a firsthand look at growing up in Kenya as a member of a tribe of nomads whose livelihood centers on the raising and grazing of cattle. Readers share Lekuton's first encounter with a lion, the epitome of bravery in the warrior tradition. They follow his mischievous antics as a young Maasai cattle herder, coming-of-age initiation, boarding school escapades, soccer success, and journey to America for college. Lekuton's riveting text combines exotic details of nomadic life with the universal experience and emotions of a growing boy.

The Bitter Side of Sweet

Fifteen-year-old Amadou counts the things that matter. For two years what has mattered are the number of cacao pods he and his younger brother, Seydou, can chop down in a day. The higher the number the safer they are. The higher the number the closer they are to paying off their debt and returning home. Maybe. The problem is Amadou doesn’t know how much he and Seydou owe, and the bosses won’t tell him. The boys only wanted to make money to help their impoverished family, instead they were tricked into forced labor on a plantation in the Ivory Coast. With no hope of escape, all they can do is try their best to stay alive—until Khadija comes into their lives. She’s the first girl who’s ever come to camp, and she’s a wild thing. She fights bravely every day, attempting escape again and again, reminding Amadou what it means to be free. But finally, the bosses break her, and what happens next to the brother he has always tried to protect almost breaks Amadou. The three band together as family and try just once more to escape.

Next, look at some of these ideas to learn about Africa.

HANDS-ON AFRICA IDEAS

  • How to Make a Kids’ Fun Ceremonial African Tribal Mask
  • How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton
  • Alphabet Letter G is for Gorilla Fun Paper Plate Preschool Mask
  • Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah
  • 8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft
  • How to Make An Embroidered African Map Fun Geography Craft
  • Fun Wildlife Craft Mountain Gorilla Layered Art Project
  • 8 Facts about African Elephants and a Cute Paper Plate Elephant
  • Learn About African Art For Children And Make Fun Djembe Drums
  • 6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions
Free Africa Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History

In addition, you can add any minibook to your lapbook.

However, look at the free minibooks I’ve included in this download.

FREE MINIBOOKS IN THE AFRICA LAPBOOK

  • Meet the animals of Africa
  • Life in Africa today
  • Fun Facts about Africa
  • Natural Wonders and Ancient Sites

Finally, look at how to grab the free Africa.

HOW TO GET THE FREE AFRICA LAPBOOK

Now, how to grab the freebie. 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 instantly.

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbooks Tagged With: Africa, geography, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, highschoolgeography, homeschool geography, homeschoolgeography, lapbook, lapbooking, lapbookresources, lapbooks

5 Days of Learning Printables The World of Columbus and Sons Day 3 For Middle and High School

September 13, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today’s printables in my series 5 Days of Learning Printables: The World of Columbus and Sons Day 3 For Middle and High School are from Part I. When Columbus Was a Boy (1451 – 1474), Lesson 2. Also, look at my page homeschool middle school and how to homeschool high school page for more fun tips

I have 5 printables which are 3 sets of notebooking pages and 2 minibooks. They are Prince Henry the Navigator, Ships 1400 to 1600, Sandro Botticelli, and the Medici Patrons of the Renaissance.

The first notebooking page is about Prince Henry The Navigator. It has a map of some of the areas Columbus would have been familiar with as a boy.

5 Days of Learning Printables The World of Columbus and Sons Day 3 For Middle and High School

Too, Columbus had a fascination as a boy with the ships of the time.  So the next notebooking pages is to tell a bit about the ships of the middle ages.

Then the next set of notebooking pages is about Sandro Botticelli and it is a 5 page download.

These notebooking pages are one of the reasons we loved this series of books.

PRINCE HENRY NAVIGATOR AND FREE SHIPS NOTEBOOKING

Henry the Navigator

Ships of the 14th to 16th centuries.

It has other topics like art are added in to enrich the understanding and background of the life of Columbus.

Art of that time period or Italian Renaissance Art is something no doubt Columbus would have appreciated or in the very least have been acquainted with.

You can’t hardly study this time period without taking time to study the art of that time period or famous artist of the time and Sandro Botticelli was one we focused on.

Botticelli, Primavera & his other art 1Botticelli, Primavera & his other art 2
Botticelli, Primavera & his other art 3Botticelli, Primavera & his other art 4

Then next the Medici Family is one that Mr. Senior fixated on too. Too, Netflix use to have The Age of the Medici on for free, but it looks like it is now a rental.

5 Days Of Learning Printables About the World of Columbus and Sons day 3

But Mr. Senior 2013 watched the film about the “godfathers” (Medici Family) of the Renaissance and understanding how they fostered a love of science and art in that time period, he found fascinating.

I created a minibook about Cosimo and Lorenzo Medici.

The Patrons of the Renaissance-Medici

War of the Roses

And then lastly, I have a minibook that builds some background information about the War of Roses, which was a series of wars for the throne of England fought between two houses, the houses Lancaster and York.

I think it’s easier introducing this topic too through the life of Columbus since it’s a lot to take in during this time period.

Remember, that for most all of the notebooking pages and minibooks, I have provided the answers to help save you some time too.

And don’t forget I have a huge Renaissance Unit Study and Glass Blowing Unit Study that will enhance your study of The World of Columbus and Sons. Renaissance 1300 to 1600 Unit Study and Glassblowing

5 Days of Learning Printables: The World of Columbus and Sons

Day 1.
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 1 For Middle and High School.
Day 2.
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 2 For Middle and High School.
Day 3. 
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 3 For Middle and High School.
Day 4.
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 4 For Middle and High School.
Day 5.
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 5 For Middle and High School.

HOW TO GET THE FREE COLUMBUS NOTEBOOKING PAGES & MINIBOOKS

Now, how to grab the freebie. 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 instantly.

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Geography Based, History Based, Notebooking Pages Tagged With: christophercolumbus, freeprintables, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, lapbook

5 Days of Learning Printables The World of Columbus and Sons Day 1 For Middle and High School

September 7, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a few unit studies that have been half-baked since Mr. Senior graduated, so today I am going to share 5 Days of Learning Printables: The World of Columbus and Sons Day 1 for Middle and High School.Also, look at my page homeschool middle school and how to homeschool high school page for more fun tips.

Today’s printables are at the bottom, but I wanted to share my experience in how I used this book.

5 Days of Learning Printables The World of Columbus and Sons Day 1 For Middle and High School

Too one more thing I tried to create the printables in this unit study so that you can use them for both your middle and high school kids. 

I didn’t create printables on each lesson plan, but as we saw what interested us.

WHY DID I CHOOSE THE GENEVIEVE FOSTER SERIES OF BOOKS

They are rich with background information and colorful characters that are introduced throughout the life of Columbus. 

The approach to history as a story, I feel, always makes it more appealing to young and old alike.

Another reason we chose this series of books is because we wanted to understand the everyday life of Columbus and his world. 

The events, the people, the tragedies, the discoveries, the arts and religion are all gently woven throughout his life.

Like her other books, Ms. Foster takes one character and relates him to other things going on in the world at that time.

It’s hard to live your life in any time period and not be affected by other events going on around the world.

One more idea that drew us to choose these set of books is that we wanted to focus on a shorter time period of the main character, but not lose the bigger picture of the events going on in the rest of the world. 5 Days Of Learning Printables About the World of Columbus and Sons-1 When studying history, topics can tend to stay broad. 

For example, it is hard to study history and not cover a 100 years or so at a time. 

If you want to diverge, finding other topics and events can be time consuming. 

GENEVIEVE FOSTER  SERIES OF BOOKS

These books add in key events and then you can decide if you want to casually mention them or have them a subject of an essay.

Columbus was born in 1451 and died in 1506 at the age of 55. 

Aiming at one spot in history like 55 years allows your highschooler to experience the time period in depth without losing their spot in the timeline of the story.

There is no way we can study about all the events going on.

 By focusing on a more limited topic, we have come away having a deeper appreciation for Columbus and the Renaissance period.

HELPFUL TIPS USING GENEVIEVE FOSTER  BOOKS

Because so many characters and events are folded into the story and at times quickly, it is helpful if you read beforehand to familiarize yourself with the events. 

Adding in background information on new characters involved or events will enrich your study.

I found it very helpful that we had already cycled through a 4 year study of history using a program like Story of the World and History Odyssey when my oldest son was younger. 

So my older son had a framework of events and characters to draw from.

For my younger sons, I was able to add important information and background details.  We all read this together from my then 5th grader to highschooler.

I could see how though if a student started with this book without a prior understanding of some of the events, it would be challenging and perhaps take some of the fun out of learning history.

It would not be impossible, but I would encourage you to mentor even your high school students by helping them to build a framework on whatever topic you are reading about.

Because of the constant going back/forth between countries and characters, I feel it is imperative that the teacher look ahead to see if there is some way the groundwork for each chapter can be laid out.

Too, I found it beneficial for us to orally review what we have learned prior to that time.

TIPS USING GENEVIEVE FOSTER BOOKS

Again, I feel it is important to mentor and be hands on with your highschooler. The last tip is to use the index. It is much overlooked.

The index has two sections. One is people and one is events, places, books, maps and topics. That was a key to helping me develop another topic or unit study that we wanted to focus on.  In addition, it helps you to be sure you have covered key features of the life of Columbus.

The index for Columbus reads, in part, like this:

  • as a boy; sailor-to-be; first voyage; in Portugal; voyage to Iceland; marriage; studies; …., etc.

This allowed us to see key events that were coming up or to review the past evens in the life of Columbus.

HOW THE BOOK THE WORLD OF COLUMBUS AND SONS IS LAID OUT

The book is divided up into 4 sections. The section divisions make it is easier to tie in key events and relate them to the life of Columbus.

Also at the beginning of each section is where you find pictures of the people who were living at that the time.

The sections are listed like this:

Part I. When Columbus was a Boy in Genoa
{People and Events that took place between 1451 – 1474}

Part II. When Columbus was in Portugal and Spain
{People and Events that took place between 1474 – 1492}

Part III. When Columbus was Sailing from Spain
{People and Events that took place between 1492 – 1500}

Part IV. When Columbus made his Final Voyage
{People and Events that took place between 1500 and 1522}

The pictures and visuals are a must to review and study. We flipped back constantly to each section to review and my older sons preferred to draw some of the characters and maps onto a notebook sheet.

How we used this book

We followed the Literature Guide by Beautiful Feet and because we studied history together, all ages, we added some notebook pages, coloring pages and minibooks that really any level could use.

It just really depends on how depth you want to be in your study.

It is important to note that the Beautiful Feet guides are just question/ answer format and do not have background information compared to say a Teacher’s Manual like Tapestry of Grace. Again, this is what we wanted that year.  

The notebook pages and minibooks that I will be sharing are designed to complement our study of this book. 

You will still want to purchase the guide at Beautiful Feet.

In creating these pages as with all of my lapbooks and notebooks, I want them simple and to the point. Since we do a lot of other writing on various topics we choose, I want notebooking pages that are uncomplicated.

So I hope these pages can serve to supplement and enhance your study as you go through the Beautiful Feet Lesson Plans.

There are so many subjects covered in this time period, that it is impossible to cover them all, but we sure tried.

Let me start by sharing some pages that could either work as notebook pages or lapbook page covers.

Christopher Columbus Cover -Decoration 2Christopher Columbus Cover -Decoration 1

Also look at my Renaissance Unit Study to enhance this one.

 Here are the other posts in these 5 Days of Learning Printables: The World of Columbus and Sons.

Day 1.
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 1 For Middle and High School.
Day 2.
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 2 For Middle and High School.
Day 3. 
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 3 For Middle and High School.
Day 4.
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 4 For Middle and High School.
Day 5.
5 Days of Learning Printables:The World of Columbus and Sons Day 5 For Middle and High School.

HOW TO GET THE FREE COLUMBUS COVERS

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

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

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Leave a CommentFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Geography Based, History Based Tagged With: christophercolumbus, freeprintables, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, lapbook, middleschool

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