We will visit history in a chronological sequence starting from Ancient Times to the beginning of the Middle Ages. Each class will focus on a few chapters of the Story of the World vol.1 book with lecture, pictures, and some fun stories. Each student will work on a lapbook throughout the session to be completed by the end as well as some fun crafts and a few presentations along with way.
This is a live online class that meets once a week for 13-weeks. Each week the student will use their computer/iPad to logon using Zoom to participate in the class. All students will be visible (if they choose) as well as the teacher. The students will have the ability to ask questions and dialog with the teacher and other students. It will be the student/parent’s responsibility to print all materials needed for the lapbook and procure all supplies for the projects. All classes will be recorded, so if a student misses a class, it will be available for viewing via password protected webpage.
Special Note on Lapbooks: A lapbook is two manila file folders stapled in the middle to form a book. Minibooks are added on each topic we discuss in class. Thus, by the end of the course, your student will have a book filled with minibooks charting history in this time period. Each minibook includes some fill-in-the-blank and/or a map to color. They will be cut, folded and glued into the manila file folder. A video will be posted to show exactly how to cut, fold and glue each minibook into the lapbook. Special Note on Projects: Most projects will have a video posted to show the student exactly how to complete the project
Regarding Videos: Please keep in mind that although I usually preview all videos, there may be some that you need to view yourself to make sure you approve of the material. Especially the longer videos, I don’t always have time to watch every minute prior to posting. All videos are intended to engage the child in the subject being taught. If it doesn’t work for your child, feel free to not let them watch.
FALL 2020 Ch.1-21
- Week 1: Ch1&2 Earliest People, Egyptians. What is a nomad and who were they? Where did they live? Why did they become farmers? Who lived in Egypt? Who unified Egypt?
- Project: Double Crown of Egypt (red & white construction paper, glue stick, scissors, tape)
ASSIGNMENT: Egypt Poster Board. Create a poster board showing five items you learned about Ancient Egypt. Include on the board a timeline of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. Due: Week 4
- Week 2: Ch3&4 First Writing, Old Kingdom of Egypt. What were the first two types of writing? What did the early people write on? What was the Old Kingdom of Egypt like? What did they do to their pharaoh after he died? Why was mummification important?
- Project: Great Sand Pyramid (cardstock printout, pencil, scissors, glue stick, sand, Elmer’s glue, paint brush)
- Week 3: Ch5&6 Sumerians, Jewish People. Who was Sargon? Where was his empire? Who was Abraham and Joseph? How did Abraham & Joseph change history?
- Project: Make a Coat of Many Colors. (large white shirt, fabric paint)
- Week 4: PRESENTATION DAY! Present your Egypt poster board project to the class.
ASSIGNMENT: Mesopotamia Poster Board. Create a poster board showing five items you learned about Ancient Mesopotamia. Due: Week 8
- Week 5: Ch7&8 Hammurabi, Assyria. Who was Hammurabi? What was unique about his empire? Who was Shamshi-Adad? Where was his empire? What is the story of Gilgamesh?
- Project: Paper Ziggurat (cardstock printout, scissors, glue stick, tape)
- Week 6: Ch9&10 India, Ancient China. Where was Mohenjo-Daro? Why are rivers important for a civilization? What is the story of Lei Zu? What was Chinese writing like?
- Project: Paper China Bowl (cardstock printout, blue crayon or colored pencil, glue stick, tape, scissors)
- Week 7: Ch11&12 Ancient Africa, Middle Kingdom of Egypt. What is the topography of Africa? What is the story of Anansi and Turtle? What was the relationship between the Egyptians, Nubia and the Hyksos?
- Project: Paper Bead Necklace (paper printout, crayons/colored pencils, glue stick, string)
- Week 8: PRESENTATION DAY! Present your Mesopotamia Poster Board to the class.
ASSIGNMENT: Create a Poster Board showing five facts about the Phoenicians or Babylonians. Include a timeline. DUE: Week 12
- Week 9: Ch13&14 New Kingdom of Egypt, Israelite People. What is the New Kingdom of Egypt? Who was Thutmose, Hatshepsut, Amenhotep and King Tut? Who was Moses? How did Moses change the history of the Israelites?
- Project: “Gold” Bracelets (gold paper or paint, toilet tubes, paint or colored pencils or crayons, glue stick, tape)
- Week 10: Ch15&16 Phoenicians, Assyria. Who were the Phoenicians? How was Carthage founded? What were the Phoenicians famous for? Who was Ashurbanipal? What is the Library of Nineveh? What was the Assyrians Empire like?
- Project: Lego Assyrian Siege Tower
- Week 11: Ch17&18 Babylon, Crete. Who was Nebuchadnezzar? What happened to him? What are the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Who were bull jumpers? Who was King Minos and the Minotaur? What was life like on Crete?
- Project: Lego Minotaur Maze
- Week 12: PRESENTATION DAY! Present your Phoenician or Babylonian Poster Board to the class.
- Week 13: Ch19,20&21 Greece, Medes, Persians. Who were the Mycenaeans? What was the Greek Dark Ages? What was the Greek alphabet? What are the stories of Homer? Who was Cyrus the Great? How big was the Persian Empire?
SPRING 2021 Ch.22-42
- Week
1: Ch 22&23 Sparta & Athens, Greek Gods. What was life like in Sparta versus Athens? What were the Greek gods?
- Project: Athenian Wax Tablet (yogurt lid, lard or shortening, toothpick, table knife)
ASSIGNMENT: Create a Poster Board for Ancient Sparta or Ancient Athens. Include a timeline. Due: Week 4
- Week
2: Ch24&25 Wars of the Greeks, Alexander the Great. Why did Greece fight with Persia? Were all Greeks allies? Who was Alexander the Great? How big was Alexander’s empire?
- Project: Graham Cracker Parthenon (Graham Crackers, Marshmallows, Vanilla Frosting)
- Week
3: Ch26&27 America, Rise of Rome.
What are the Nazca drawings? How
did Rome begin? What was so unique about
the Roman civilization?
- Project: Nazca Line Drawing (white paper, white crayon, watercolor paints)
- Week 4: PRESENTATION DAY! Present your Ancient Sparta or Ancient Athens Poster Board to the class.
ASSIGNMENT: Create Poster Board showing five facts about beginning of Rome, the Roman Republic. Include a timeline on your board. DUE: Week 8
- Week 5: Ch28&29 Roman Empire, Rome vs. Carthage. How important were the Roman roads? What was a Roman gladiator? What were the Punic Wars?
- Project: Roman Fasces (straws, cardstock paper, alum foil or silver crayons, yarn or ribbon)
- Week 6: Ch30&31 Aryans, Mauryan in India. How important was the Ganges River? What was life like in Ancient India? What are the Jataka Tales?
- Project: Watch a Jataka Tale. Draw a picture of the tale and write what you think it means.
- Week 7: Ch32&33 China, Confucius. What is calligraphy? What was the warring states period in China? Who unified China? Who was Confucius? What did he teach?
- Project: Chinese Calligraphy (black paint, white paper)
- Week 8: PRESENTATION DAY! Present your Roman Republic Poster Board to the class.
ASSIGNMENT: Create a Poster Board showing five facts about Julius Caesar. DUE: Week 12
- Week 9: Ch34&35 Roman Empire, Julius Caesar. Who was Julius Caesar? Why is he important to Roman history? What does it mean to “Cross the Rubicon?” How was Cleopatra important to Julius Caesar?
- Project: Roman Mosaic (beans, seeds, glue, pattern on paper)
- Week 10: Ch36&37 Roman prince, Christianity beginnings. Who was the first Roman prince? How did Augustus Caesar rise to power in Rome? Who was Jesus? How did Jesus change history?
- Project: Mosaic Cross (shredded crayon, wax paper, warm iron, newspaper, towel, sharpie, construction paper) or (construction/tissue paper, glue stick, cross printout)
- Week 11: Ch.38-40 Jewish Nation, Rome. What happened to end the Jewish Nation? What happened to Christians in Rome under Emperor Nero? What were the catacombs? Why does Rome begin to fall?
- Project: Constantine’s Shield (cardboard, black marker)
- Week 12: PRESENTATION DAY! Present your Julius Caesar Poster Board to the class.
- Week 13: Ch.41&42 Barbarians, End of Rome. Who was Attila the Hun? What barbarian tribes attacked Rome? What happened to Rome? Who was the last Roman emperor?