Geography Through Living Stories

Every week we would read a living book that I selected for the civilization we were learning about. I gave a brief history lesson and then we took a look at our map and talked about the civilization at that time in history as well as about the modern nation that exists there today.  Then we would do our art project and at the very end the children would get a stamp on their geography passports!

I think geography is one of those subjects that you can study with intention, but that you can also work into your program without having to buy a text or workbook. Integrating several subjects this way offers your child a base of information from which they can build on.  So the next time they read about Egypt or Mesopotamia, they will remember the funny story you read or art project they did with that study and have something for which they can build additional knowledge on.

In the same way, you can have your child map where their reader take place or use an atlas to gain more information about a location’s people. We’ve been using our National Geographic Student Atlas of the World (Third Edition). You can see my full review on The Curriculum Choice. But there is a 4th edition now available, so if you’re buying new I’d recommend it as it may be more updated.

The way we study geography in our homeschool is pretty natural and often integrated with many topics of study and not just in history but in literature too!

I designed the whole Living Stories program I created to correlate with The Story of the World: Vol. 1 because that’s what Mechanical man and I have been using in our homeschool this year. This way we could also benefit from the course at home. I usually read the living books with him along with the chapter they complemented in SOTW. I did the same with the art lessons. You can learn more about how this program follows SOTW by following the Art Around the World Series!

Art Around the Ancient World- the line up:

The following lists each lesson by civilization, what each lesson’s focus will be, and the media/project tutorial.

• Prehistory– Cave Paintings– Painting the Ancient Way
• Sumerians – Ancient Writing -Cylinder Seals in Clay
• Egyptians – Egyptian Art – Text as Texture/ Egyptian Headdress
• Assyrians and Babylonians -Near East Metalworking –  Babylonian Art Lesson for Kids
• Phoenicians– Ancient Dyes– Purple Batik Cloths
• Hittites and Ancient Israel– TBA
• Ancient Africa– Akuaba Wooden Doll– African Scratch Art
• Minoan and Mycenaean-Greek Mythology Masks-MinotaurPaper Mache Masks
• Persians– Persian Carpets and Decor- Paper Weaving Project
• Ancient China- Tangrams
• Ancient Greece– Pythagorus – Tessellating Jars
• India- Spice JarLayer Art
• Rome- Mosaics

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Teaching History with Art and Artifacts

There are so many ways to teach things. Choosing one that interests you, and especially your children, will be much more effective than any textbook or rote memorization of facts. You probably already know this but maybe aren’t sure how to design a program. Let me share with you how I teach history through art and artifacts.

1. Choose a spine.

I start with a spine book. This year we are using  Story of the World: Vol. 1 Ancient Times as our spine. And because it’s a very easy read, I also have my 6th grader read independently from a few different history books for whatever time period or civilization we are on. But the spine gives me the framework to build upon. Once you have chosen a good spine, you can get started.

2. Find a great reference book.

This is essential. I found the most perfect book for just this purpose: History of the World in 1,000 Objects.Not only does if offer amazing photographic images, but it also tells us things about them from a historical context. I had been using art books from the library but it required so much more work from me. I had to dig and dig and cross check dates from several resources for accuracy.

Not with this book, I can so easily find the snippet I need for art appreciation for each civilization. Not only that, but it references them by time period and it also offers a comprehensive timeline in the back of the book! It was just what I needed as I proceed with my program so that we can add the art and artifacts we have discussed to our timeline with confidence.

3. Add living books.

Add living books to your program next. What history you don’t cover your child can fill in with engaging historical fiction and other stories from those civilizations. Choose books that are on or below your child’s reading level for his readers. Maybe every now and then add one that’s a challenge to stretch their ability. But be sure to offer quality confidence builders often. Then select one read aloud for each civilization for you to read together. If you don’t have the time, try audio books in the car while on errands. You’ll be surprised how much your children will love them!

4. Keep a Timeline and Cover Geography.

Since you are doing mostly reading through the week, spend at least one day of instruction adding to your timeline what you have learned about and find places on the map you’ve talked about. While you’re teaching them about these ancient places you can point out what countries they are today. Isn’t that so much more comprehensive than just memorizing facts from a text? Perhaps you could use push pins on a map to mark where an artifact has been found. One fun thing I’m doing with my co-op class is stamping their “passports” for all the places we learn about.

5. Do hands on projects.

For us this year our hands on projects are art projects. As we cover each civilization, we do some fun project to remind us of what we discussed. Sometimes it’s once every two weeks or even only once per month. We just do them when it seems right and we have some time. For Babylon and Assyria, we made glue paintings to imitate some of the ornate metalworking of the period.

 Would you like to see more art projects from Around the Ancient World?

The following lists each lesson we’ve covered by civilization and what projects we have done for them so far!

• Prehistory– Cave Paintings- Painting the Ancient Way
• Sumerians – Ancient Writing -Cylinder Seals in Clay
• Egyptians – Egyptian Art and Hieroglyphs- Multi Media/ Egyptian Headdress- Coming Soon!
• Assyrians and Babylonians –Near East Metalworking –  Babylonian Art Lesson for Kids
• Phoenicians– Ancient Dyes- Purple Batik Cloths
• Ancient Africa– Akuaba Wooden Doll- Scratch Art
• Minoan and Mycenaean– Early Greek Masks-Paper Mache Masks
• Persians– Persian Carpets and Decor- Paper Weaving
• Ancient China- Tangrams- Tessellating Birds
• Mauryan Empire (Ancient India)- Rangoli Art and Spices- Spice Jars
• Greece- Etruscan Vases- TBA
• Rome- Mosaics- TBA

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Phoenician Study

How to Make Phoenician Purple Dye

You can make your own natural dyes from food. Though you can make many different colors from a variety of food, we will stick with blueberries because it best produces the color purple. Phoenicians in the ancient world made the purple dye for which they are named for from Murex, a sea snail with a spiny shell.  It was a very expensive and costly process.  The color quickly became associated with the wealthy and was a symbol of status. And ever since, the color has been associated with kings.

To make natural purple dye you will need:

• 2 cups frozen or fresh blueberries
• saucepan
• 1-2 quarts of water

1. Boil two cups blueberries in 1 1/2 -2 quarts of water for at least one hour on medium heat. ( a great deal of liquid will evaporate )

2.  Drain blueberries and reserve liquid for dye.

It’s such and easy thing to do but requires a bit of time. However, a little can go a very long way and you can use your natural dye for several purposes. Increase the amounts for multiple projects.

Phoenician Art Lesson for Kids

Now that you’ve made a dye, what will you do with it? We decided to try out making a batik. A batik is a method of producing designs on textiles by applying wax to the parts to be left undyed. Why not use your dye to make a Phoenician Batik with us?

Or, if my art lesson isn’t quite what you’re looking for, try dying pasta, rice, or sand for future craft projects or sensory tables, making your own t-shirts and socks, doing a science experiment, or using as homemade watercolor. The longer you soak your item, the darker color the dye will produce.

This post has been part of my Art Around the Ancient World Series.

The following lists each lesson by civilization, what each lesson’s focus will be, and the media/project tutorial.  (These are subject to change.)

• Prehistory– Cave Paintings- Painting the Ancient Way
• Sumerians – Ancient Writing -Cylinder Seals in Clay
• Egypt – Egyptian Art and Hieroglyphs- Multi Media/ Egyptian People Coming Soon!
• Assyrians and Babylonians – Glue Painting- Babylonian Art Lesson for Kids
• Phoenicians– Ancient Dyes– Batik Bags [Follow the 5 Day Series.]
• West Africa– Akuaba Wooden Doll- Scratch Art
• Minoan and Mycenaean– Early Greek Masks-Paper Mache Masks
• Persians– Persian Carpets and Decor- Paper Weaving
• China- Tangrams– Tessellating Birds
• Greece- Etruscan Vases- TBA
• Rome- Mosaics- TBA

Be sure to follow my Pinterest board too! The possibilities are epic!
Follow Stephanie @ Harrington Harmonies’s board Education | Art Around the Ancient World on Pinterest.

How do you plan to use your homemade dye?

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