Showing posts with label History Resources. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History Resources. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Building a Model of Stonehenge: Materials, Sand Dough Recipe, and Construction

After our prototype, we gathered our materials.

We used sand dough to make our model, but it can be used for so many more things. What about a Colosseum? Or models of famous sculptures? Perhaps your child will make his own sculpture! So many possibilities!

After we gathered our materials, we set to work building our model!


We used: 

Several diagrams of Stonehenge
(1) large sheet of plywood for a mobile working area
(1) sheet of poster board as a base for the model
(1) can green spray paint (grass)
(1) batch of sand dough
(2) cookie sheets
(1) white glue
(2) hot glue set-up

SAND DOUGH 
8 cups all-purpose flour (Allergen note: this was before we eliminated gluten. Even though we obviously don't eat this, some children may have issues with using wheat flour in crafts.I have not tried it with GF flour) 3 cups water
14 cups sand
1/4 cup white glue (just take the top off and dump a huge gloop in)
Honker squirt of black paint (this makes it look like stone)
Mix with hands in a huge bowl



As you can see in the picture, we mixed all this up on the front porch—a goooood idea! The children then formed sarsen stones, trilathons, lintels, etc. We placed them on a cookie sheet and baked them in the oven on low until they were dryish. Because there is paint in the sand dough, we did not have to paint them when they were finished.

My eldest spray painted the posterboard green, and then we followed a diagram to lay out the basic design of stonehenge. You need to decide if you will build it how it stands today or how archaeologists think it used to look. We went with how they think it used to look.

For the most part, we were able to use white glue to secure everything. For the parts that were kept falling apart or required more tackiness, I used hot glue (be careful with that!). Once all the pieces were ready, and supplies in order, and the hot glue gun warmed up, the model went together quickly.







PROTOTYPE







YouTube Connections: Stonehenge

Building a Model of Stonehenge: Prototype

In our ancient cultures unit study, we learned about Stonehenge. We read books, watched YouTube videos, and built a model of Stonehenge.

For the prototype, I mixed up a recipe of date fudge, and we shaped them into triathlons and lintels and blue stones.

This helped the children learn the basic shapes involved in the structure.

And then ate them. Yum!

Afterwards, we gathered our materials and made our model!

DATE FUDGE 
1 cup peanuts
1 1/3 cup dates
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3/16 tsp salt (1/8 + 1/2 of 1/8)  
 Mix in a food processor

MODEL CONSTRUCTION

YOUTUBE CONNECTION: STONEHENGE



Sunday, December 22, 2013

Cave Painting Activity

Chauvet!
We study ancient history during Cycle 1 of Classical Conversations. For a few weeks prior to the start of classes, I teach a unit on pre-history. One of our activities is making cave paintings.

The activity is very simple. Crumple paper bags to make the walls and then paint. Easy, inexpensive, and fun. What could be better than that??







Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The History of Civilization in 5 Minutes

This is an incredible video. I was hooked from the first scene.

Dan Bull has created a video that portrays the history of civilization in five minutes. The imagery and animation is astounding, the music is fantastic, and the words (it is a rap) are powerful. It includes subtitles, so it is easily understandable, even with his accent.

I'd rate it PG. It is a very dark (accurate?) take on history, focusing on war and negative interactions between people and cultures. I saw nothing untrue, but it is not a happy little children's story.

I was impressed by it, my children enjoyed it, and it is worth the five minutes to watch.


Saturday, November 16, 2013

Liberty's Kids New Low Price

Amazon has dropped the price of the entire Liberty's Kids series.

It's now $5.99 with free super-saver shipping!

I haven't seen the price this low before, so I think I'm going to spring for it. We love Liberty's Kids and usually watch the entire series during Cycle 3 (American History/Literature) of Classical Conversations.

CLICK HERE TO CATCH THIS DEAL! 

Disclosure: The above link goes to my associate store on Amazon.

Map of Europe Through the Years

I found this tonight while researching geography curricula. I usually just watch a few seconds of clip before adding it to my playlist, but I couldn't stop watching this one. The map shows Europe's political boundaries from what they were in 1000 CE to 1999. This is a general concept clip, the dates are usually a few seconds off from the visuals, but overall, it's really incredible. And the music sounds like it was made by Two Steps from Hell, which is always a plus in my book.

 

Best History Sites

Sherry Titus-Daughtry has recommended a link to a comprehensive history site from edtechteacher with maps and other links. I know I'll be checking it out! Thanks, Sherry!

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT BEST HISTORY SITES!

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