Medieval Times - A Field Trip

We said we wouldn't step near a mall or shopping center on Black Friday. Like a five mall radius near zone.

Instead, we decided to go to a Medieval Times dinner and tournament on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

We drove over an hour on mostly interstates to get to the castle, which happened to be located - wait for it -

at a mall! We could not believe it. It never occurred to us that the castle would be housed in a mall. Ugh.

 

 

However, the experience was worth it! We had a meaty Medieval feast complete with 1/2 a chicken and a spare rib each, and watched a tournament. We cheered for the red knight as that is the section we were seated in. Afterwards, we were able to meet the knight and get his autograph.

 

 

It was a fabulous field trip that made our studies on the Middle Ages spring to life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ancient Greece

 

Using Ancient Civilizations and the Bible as a spine, we studied through quite a few ancient cultures. Along the way we decided to study a few of those cultures at a more in-depth level. Aside from Ancient Egypt, we also took a nice long jaunt through Ancient Greece last year. Below are the resources we used.

 

Supplement

History Pockets: Ancient Greece, Grades 4-6+, by Sandi Johnson

 

Nonfiction Works

The Greek News, by Anton Powell and Philip Steele

Science in Ancient Greece, by Kathlyn Gay

Usborne Internet-Linked: Greeks, by Susan Peach and Anne Millard

Ancient Greek Art, by Susie Hodge

 

Literature

The Aesop for Children, illustrated by Milo Winter

Greek Myths, as told by Jim Weiss, audio CD

Heroes in Mythology: Theseus, Prometheus, and Odin, as told by Jim Weiss, audio CD

The Children's Homer, by Padraic Colum

Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of the Iliad, by Rosemary Sutcliff

The Wanderings of Odysseus: the Story of the Odyssey, by Rosemary Sutcliff

 

For Younger Children

The First Marathon: The Legend of Pheidippides, by Susan Reynolds

The Tortoise and the Hare, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Usborne Beginners: Ancient Greeks, by Stephanie Turnbull

The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War, by Emily Little

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth, by Kathryn Lasky

 

Historical Fiction

Theras and His Town, by Caroline Dale Snedeker

 

 

Hands On Projects 

 



{Hoplite Shields made from sturdy paper plates}

Sadly, over the course of about a decade of homeschooling, I had never made paper mache. It is messy! This past year, I decided to get over myself and try it. My second grade teacher would be so proud. I was inspired by this Greek vase project and decided to give it a whirl with my crew. Oh did we have fun! And oh, was it ever messy, but worth every minute hour of clean of up.

The children also made cardboard models of Greek houses, drew Trojan horses, and wrote their names in Greek.

Ancient Egypt

This past school year, our three younger children (7th, 5th, and 1st grade at the time) studied the Ancient History time period.

For our youngest child, this was the first time he learned about Ancient Egypt, Ancient Israel, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome. It was the second time through for our middle children. Over their school years, we hope to go through world history three times.

The first time our daughters studied Ancient Egypt, we made papyrus paper using this kit. It didn't work. For the record, it could have been user error, as in our fault. Regardless, it was not the hands on learning I had dreamed of completing. In hind sight, I should have gotten this instead. Already preprinted papyrus would have been easier.

This time, I contemplated mummifying a chicken. We have the instructions in this book. I chickened out. Yes, I'm a bit squeamish.

Instead, we did a lot of paper, markers, and glue kind of projects using History Pockets: Ancient Egypt, published by Evan-Moor. It offered hands on learning with less mess. (Though when we got to Ancient Greece I relented and even tried homemade paper mache - quite the mess!)

Activity Ideas:

• Hieroglyphic writing (we wrote names and messages)
• papyrus paper (paint on kit)
• pyramid building (out of anything and everything, but Legos work nicely)
• reed boat building (instructions here, could substitute drinking straws for reeds)
• make an Egyptian Jeweled Collar (instructions here)
• play Senet (how to found here)
• mummify a chicken (for the brave of heart - how to found here)
• make canopic jars (inspiration here)

Books:

• The Cat of Bubastes, by G.A. Henty - I read this one aloud to our children, and my daughter asked for this one read aloud by Jim Weiss for Christmas
• The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, by Elizabeth Payne - read by our 7th grader
• Pyramid, by David Macaulay - paged through by the children on their own
• Tut's Mummy: Lost and Found, by Judy Donnelly - I read it aloud to our 1st grader
• Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs, by James Rumford - shared with all the children
• Science in Ancient Egypt, by Geraldine Woods - read by our 7th grader
• The Great Pyramid, by Elizabeth Mann - shared with all our children
• Ms. Frizzle's Adventure in Ancient Egypt, by Joanna Cole

 

 

After our Ancient History studies, we took the children to a museum which features Ancient Egyptian artifacts (including mummies!).

 

For those interested, I have a Pinterest board for Ancient Egypt. I'll be adding to it as we progress through the years. After all, I should be returning to teaching Ancient History at least two more times.

 

 



Follow Dorie Kay's board Ancient Egypt on Pinterest.        

Shakespeare Resources and Lesson Ideas

When my daughter chose Shakespeare as her birthday party theme, I was thrilled. I thought there would be lots of ideas and plans available. Since her birthday party was to be postponed until after the holiday season, I decided to wait until after Christmas to start planning. After all, I assumed there was a plethora of information and ideas available. There was no hurry, right?

Alas, I was wrong, quite wrong. Apparently, not many young girls have a Shakespeare themed birthday party. I had to start from square one with only a few weeks to plan her party.

However, the internet is bursting with information about Shakespeare, his works, and the time period in which he lived. I researched it all. What follows are websites and resources which I thought would be great resources for anyone planning a lesson on Shakespeare.


Online Resources

Complete Works of Shakespeare found here

Language {articles and helps}

• an article on Elizabethan language
• Speak Like Shakespeare
• Talk Like Shakespeare

Quotes

• Shakespeare Quotes

Food {articles and recipes}

• food from the 1500's
• English food from the 1600's
• Renaissance foods
• Renaissance cooking and recipes
• cook book from 1591 called A Book of Cookrye

Clothing

• video on how to make clothing {warning, it is funny}
• article on how to make clothing of the time period
• sewing hats
• alternative directions on sewing hats
• suggested supplies and fabrics for hats
• place to purchase hats
• how to make a jester hat from craft foam
• how to make a jester hat from construction paper

Games of Shakespeare's time found here

Articles and Activities for Kids

• from Cricket: free articles about Shakespeare 
• from free-for-kids: Shakespeare word games
• from Activity Village: coloring pages
• from Crayola: coloring page
• free printable Globe Theatre paper model

Teacher Resources

• Activity Village has free printables for notebooking
• life and times of Shakespeare with free power point presentations {You will have to poke around this site as some of it needs updated links}
• short written biography found here
• A Day with William Shakespeare can be accessed here
• brief video biography found here
• a link to Shakespeare's Globe online resource listing, lots to peruse for the serious student

Books and Videos {we found most at our local library}

Biographies and Nonfiction Resources

• Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare, by Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema
• Who Was William Shakespeare, by Celeste Mannis
• William Shakespeare and the Globe, by Aliki
• Shakespeare and Macbeth: The Story Behind the Play, by Stewart Ross
• Shakespeare's Kitchen: Renaissance Recipes for the Contemporary Cook, by Francine Segan
• Shakespeare for Kids: His Life and Times, by Colleen Aagesen

Works

• The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works, General Editors Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor
• Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare for Children, edited by Edith Nesbit
• Tales from Shakespeare, retold by Charles and Mary Lamb
• audio retelling Shakespeare for Children, by Jim Weiss

Picture Books of Plays

• The Tempest, retold by Ann Keay Beneduce
• William Shakespeare's Macbeth, retold by Bruce Coville
• William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, retold by Bruce Coville
• William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, retold by Bruce Coville
• William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, retold by Bruce Coville
• William Shakespeare's Hamlet, retold by Bruce Coville
• William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, retold by Bruce Coville

Videos of Plays

• BBC & Time Life Films: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - {We borrowed Twelfth Night}

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Yuletide Tour - Field Trip

For years I have wanted to take the Yuletide Tour. It showcases Christmas decorations and traditions from America's history as well as some fun Christmas decorations. This year, we went.

 

~ Can you see the pig's head? ~

 

 

1 ~ A picture of a column from natural elements, ie. the column is from birch tree bark

2 ~ Greenery atop a door way

3 ~ The colorfully wrapped gifts atop the diningroom table

4 ~ A passway to a beautifully decorated tree

 

Two of the beautifully decorated trees:

the one on the left is dried flowers

and the one on the right is silk (fake) flowers

 

 

 

In addition to the hour long guided Yuletide Tour, we browsed through several exhibit halls,

viewing many artifacts from America's history.

 

 

Some of our favorites were...

1. a-b. Loom
2. Display showing layers of bedding
3. An iron plate
4. Cushy chair pillow
5. Curved arm detail

A Life-Saving Station - A Field Trip

 

While we were at the beach for Thanksgiving,

we spent a morning exploring

this life-saving station.

It was restored to its 1905 appearance.

 

 

To be honest, we knew little nothing about these life-saving stations

which were apparently quite prevalent at one time.

In 1915, the life-saving stations merged with another group

to form the modern day U.S. Coast Guard.

 

 

Outside, we saw a boat in restoration.

In the distance is the sand dune that leads to the beach.

Inside were many items of interest.

 

 

 

{the stairs to the highest look out spot}

 

 {love these braided rugs!}

 

 {and these door knobs, which remind me of the farmhouse

where I spent part of my childhood}

 

{sunlight on the beds - beautiful}

 

 

 

One of the most interesting facts we learned was

 the station always kept the kitchen table set,

ready for the men to return after being at sea on a rescue.

 

{an incredible message of hope and confidence}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Macy's Parade Read Aloud

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade, by Melissa Sweet is a biography about Tony Sarg, the man who created the first puppets of the Macy's Parade.  The book shares interesting tid bits like a pulley and rope contraption Tony made as a young boy so he could feed the chickens without getting out of bed at 6:30 in the morning.  From this initial funny anecdote, Sweet tells of Tony's marionettes in London, his move to New York City, his work on Broadway, and finally his job at Macy's store designing their store window displays. 

 

It is at this point, a parade began for immigrants who missed the festivals of their homelands.  Sweet tells us that Tony began making costumes and floats for it.  Animals were part of the parade, but the live animals scared young children.  Macy's asked Tony to think of something different.  Inspired by an Indonesian rod puppet in his collection, Tony decided on puppets.  His first puppets were a hit, but were too small to be seen by the large crowds.  Over the years, he made some adjustments in materials, enlarged balloons, and eventually made some balloon puppets similar to what we now immediately associate with the Macy's Parade. 

 

Overall, the book tells an inspiring history of Tony Sarg and the Macy's parade balloons.  It is a fitting book for our family as we love watching the Macy's Parade each Thanksgiving Day.  Additionally, since we are currently moving through history toward the present time in our studies, this picture biography fits right into that time period.

Presidential Election Studies

 

Just who will win this election?  It is a question on everyone's mind. 

 

With the current talk centering around the upcoming Presidential election, we wanted to review some of what the children already knew about the American government as well as how elections work.  Therefore, this week, we set aside history lessons to focus on something very current.

 

We are reading through Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts, by Syl Sobel.  After each day's reading, the children organize the information into an outline.

 

On election day, we will take our children with us while we vote.  In our state, the children are allowed in the booth with their parents.  They simply have to stay on the side without the voting button.  Then, that night (and probably the next morning) as the election results begin to tabulate, the children will color the states (red or blue) to reflect who wins each state's votes.

 

After the election, we'll incorporate a Presidential study into our history studies, moving through all the Presidents. 

 

We'll use these resources:

U.S. Presidents, pocket flash cards (Trend)

Don't Know Much About the Presidents, by Kenneth C. Davis

Brain Quest: Presidents

 

 

 

Civil War Readings

After spending a good chunk of time reading and learning about the American Civil War, we are almost ready to move on in our history studies.  Before we do, I wanted to share some of the wonderful books and resources we used to learn about the American Civil War. 


Resources:
The Civil War: Primary Sources, edited by David M. Haugen
People at the Center of The Civil War, by Chris Hughes
You Wouldn't Want to be a Nurse During the American Civil War, by Kathryn Senior
The Gettysburg Address, by Abraham Lincoln
Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman, by Dorothy Sterling
The Emancipation Proclamation: Hope of Freedom for the Slaves, by Michael J. Martin


Historical Fiction Novels:
The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane
Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt
The Perilous Road, by William O. Steele
Turn Homeward, Hannalee, by Patricia Beatty
Shades of Gray, by Carolyn Reeder
Addy: An American Girl, by Connie Porter


Resources for Young Learners:
If You Lived When There Was Slavery in America, by Anne Kamma
Freedom Song: The Story of Henry "Box" Brown, by Sally M. Walker
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, by Carole B. Weatherford
When Harriet Met Sojourner, by Catherine Clinton
Civil War Drummer Boy, by Verla Kay


Abraham Lincoln Biographies
If You Grew Up with Abraham Lincoln, by Ann McGovern
Lincoln: A Photobiography, by Russell Freedman
Looking at Lincoln, by Maira Kalman



Related Post:
Civil War Day

An Unplanned Day of School

 

We traveled a few hundred miles to camp in the valley.

It was a planned family weekend away from it all.

 

 

The rush of river water was heard for days.

We relaxed beside warm camp fires.

 

 

One day, we hiked four miles through the forest and up steep inclines

 

 

to see this.

And, yes, we counted it as a day of school.  The children all navigated the trail.  Trail blazes, techniques, and safety were reviewed.  We had a topographical trail map which we checked for direction and elevation.  There was much flora and fauna to observe along the trail, including butterflies, caterpillars, insects, spiders, snakes, ferns, fungi, mushrooms, moss, conifers, and deciduous trees.  Different rocks and soil were also examined.  The changing leaf colors were a delight to view.  At the top of the incline, we explored the Rock Garden.

There were large boulders to walk among and climb.

 

 

Later, during the same day, we explored the dam, swimming area, and beach front the CCC {Civilian Conservation Corps} of the 1930's built.  It is still used on a seasonal basis.  Then we learned a bit more about the history of the park and the origin of its name. 

All in all, this field trip covered science, geography, and history, not bad for an unplanned day of school!

Picture Book Biographies of Scientists

...which my kindergartner loved!

Often, my youngest son and I take turns choosing books.  He chooses one, and I read it to him.  Then, I choose one and read it to him.  In this way, I am able to read him his favorites, as well as introduce him to some really great books which he may have passed over during a recent library trip.  On my turns, I try to read nonfiction books, biographies, or a piece of literature. 

Recently, I have found two new-to-us picture book biographies of scientists.  I shared them with my kindergartner son and he loved them both!  Of course, it didn't hurt that both were about his favorite science topics: dinosaurs and rocks. 

Barnum's Bones: How Barnum Brown Discovered the Most Famous Dinosaur in the World, by Tracey Fern tells about Barnum Brown's adventures hunting fossils and dinosaur bones during the early 1900's.  Most of the adventures occur in the United States, but a few foreign places like Cuba and India are briefly mentioned.  The book ends with a one page biographical sketch of Barnum Brown's life, including a photograph of him cleaning a T. Rex skeleton.  {This book has two references to an old earth.  Both of which I easily changed to young earth terminology.}

Rocks in His Head, by Carol Otis Hurst describes the rock collecting passion of her father.  He loved rocks and always had a collection.  At the beginning of the book, Hurst describes how her father owned a filling station and kept a rock collection.  The Depression results in less customers, and the business eventually fails.  The family sells out and moves.  However, as time goes on, her father finds a job as a janitor in a museum, which happens to have a rock collection.  He fixes an inaccurate label one day and finds himself promoted.  His new job is taking care of the rock collection at the museum.

A Trip to the Science Museum

Saturday was a school day, one of our 180 required days of school for the year.  However, this wasn't a normal day of school for us.  There were timed tickets and packed lunches to remember.  For, we were on our way into the city to see for the first, and possibly only time in our lives, The Dead Sea Scrolls.

It was an amazing experience for our family!

 

 

 

 

{No photography was permitted of the actual Dead Sea Scrolls.}

Afterward, we moved through the regular exhibits in the science museum and even sat through a lecture/show in the planetarium.  There was plenty of hands on learning activities.

 

 

 

 

All in all, this was one memorable day of school!