Ancient Egypt: Papyrus Paper and Clay Pottery {Tapestry of Grace}

This was our first week of using our new curriculum, Tapestry of Grace. It has well-planned out lesson plans which help busy homeschool moms prepare for the week. The lessons cover history, literature, worldview, arts, geography, and vocabulary. We are starting with Year 1, Unit 1 with the Ancient Egyptians and the Israelites.

We have started studying the book of Exodus. We've read about Egypt in the time that Moses was born and how he ended up living with the Pharoah, even though he was born from a family of Israelite slaves. It is fascinating to study the Bible and the corresponding history and cultures that existed during that time.

We have read many great books on Egypt. Here Nicholas is reading Pharaohs and Pyramids (Time Traveler Series) (*affiliate link*) to Rachel.

They have also read from a long list of other great books on Egypt. They are not reading these books completely. The Tapestry of Grace lesson plans tells us which pages in each book covers the topics we are studying this week. 

Tapestry of Grace is a Classical curriculum in that it teaches to different levels (Lower Grammar, Upper Grammar, Dialectic, and Rhetoric) based on the typical learning style of children of those ages.  Therefore Rachel reads books from the Lower Grammar level while Nicholas reads books from the Upper Grammar and Dialectic levels.  The whole history timeline is covered in a four year period then it starts over again with the child moving up to the next more challenging level.

The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Revised Edition (*affiliate link*)



The Nile River (Rookie Read-About Geography) (*affiliate link*)



DK Revealed: Ancient Egypt (DK Revealed) (*affiliate link*)



The Usborne Encyclopedia of the Ancient World: Internet Linked (History Encyclopedias) (*affiliate link*)



These two books include some great hands-on crafts and activities to make learning fun!

Old Testament Days: An Activity Guide (Hands-On History) (*affiliate link*)



Ancient Egypt (Make It Work! History) (*affiliate link*)



Nicholas is at the Upper Grammar level and he has independent reading time.  He will be reading Peeps At Many Lands: Ancient Egypt (*affiliate link*) over the next three weeks.  So far he says it is "ok but kind of boring".

We have read aloud time where I read to both of them.  I usually do this as they are eating lunch or maybe working on an Egyptian coloring page or craft project.   For the next few weeks we will be working our way through 

A Cry From Egypt (The Promised Land) (Volume 1) (*affiliate link*)



They are LOVING this book and beg me to keep reading it to them!

They have learned about how the Egyptians created one of the first forms of writing by using heiroglyphics.  They also created their own paper from papyrus reeds.  The paper was called papyrus paper.

The Ancient Egyptians would use the insides of the papyrus stalks and cross them over each other.  They would press the material together and the natural gum from the plant served as a type of glue to hold it together.  Once the papyrus had dried they could use it like paper.  

We do not have any papyrus reeds here in Texas so we used strips of brown paper bags.

The kids dunked the strips of paper into a mixture of white glue and water and wiped off any drippy excess glue.

The started by laying the strips of paper side by side with a slight overlap to allow them to stick together.

It was a fun and messy time in the kitchen!

Once they had a layer of strips glued together they began placing another layer on top going in the opposite direction.

They seemed to have fun just running their hands around in the glue!

Once the glue was dry, they used their "papyrus" as paper and wrote hieroglyphics on it.

They used a Hieroglyphic Chart of the alphabet from The Story of the World Activity pages to figure out how to draw their messages.

The kids loved writing in hieroglyphics because it was like writing in their own special code language!

We will get together once a week for co-op time with another homeschooling family who is studying on the same Tapestry of Grace schedule as we are.  It is fun because they live just across the street from us and our kids are already friends with each other.

For co-op this week, the kids made clay artifacts that could have been from Ancient Egyptian times.

Nicholas made a decorative bowl.

An Egyptian eye and eagle.

Note: This post contains affiliate links to the books on Amazon.  If you purchase one of these books through these links then I will receive a small percentage that goes back into paying for this blog.  It does not affect the price you pay for the book in any way.

Little Passports: Egypt

The kids both have fun with their monthly subscriptions to Little Passports.  I'm so excited that this month's package was on Egypt which they are studying right now in their Tapestry of Grace program!  

Here are all of the goodies they received:

We always start with reading aloud the letter from Sam and Sofia, two imaginary kids who travel the world and send letters, games, activities, and passport stickers to my kids each month.

Then each kiddo finds the location on their world map.

Nicholas placed his sticker right on the delta of the Nile River.

They learned about hieroglyphics and used the translator key to interpret some words.

I love that they have fun together with Little Passports.  The activities are quick and easy for Nicholas but he hasn't had much exposure to geography so he enjoys it.

Next they worked on a word scramble of cities and countries around Egypt.  It is a great way to get them looking more closely at their map.  They are "learning while doing".

I always make them save the activity for the end.  This month it is a dig kit!!  They each got a pyramid that has a hidden treasure in it that they have to excavate!

We took this project outside because I knew it would produce a lot of dust.  But oh how fun!

They got so excited when they chipped away a piece of pyramid and found a little piece of something hidden inside!

I use small cookie trays for projects like this because it makes clean up a breeze!  They each have their own.  I bought them at the dollar store and they are only used for projects, never food.

They both excavated a gold mummy from their pyramid!

Little Passports offers three programs.  Early Explorers for ages 3-5, World Edition for ages 6-10, and USA Edition for ages 7-12.  You can choose a monthly plan, 6 month plan, or 12 month plan.  

First Day of School 2015

The school day was half over today when I realized that I hadn't taken our traditional "First Day of School" pictures.  Sometimes we take the picture on the couch while they are in their pajamas, because sometimes that is our homeschool uniform for the day (because we can!).  But today they were all dressed and wanted to take the pictures outside.

Rachel is 6 years old and starting 1st grade.

Nicholas is 11 years old and starting 6th grade.  Middle School!!!

Look how big they are!  Wow, what awesome kids they are.  I am one blessed mama to be able to stay home and help them learn about the wonderful world God has blessed us with.  There is no better job in the world!

Race to Escape: Back to Homeschool Edition

Our kids love a puzzle/logic TV show called Race to Escape on the Discovery Science network.  The show is based on two teams locked in two identical but separate rooms.  Each team has to get themselves unlocked and then solved a series of puzzles in order to be able to get out of the room.  The first team to escape wins the game.

I usually do a fun thing the night before we start back to homeschool in the fall.  This year we decided to do a Race to Escape themed event.  It was a hit!

Of course they had to start locked up in some way.  We decided to handcuff them together and then make them work together to retie their shoelaces.  

Ahh, there I go sneaking a little cooperation and team work into the fun.  We should have made this task a little more challenging though.

Once they both had their shoes retied, a paper airplane came sailing towards them with a clue that led them to the kitchen where they each had to solve a sequence puzzle.  When that puzzle had been solved, a flying pig came at them delivering a piggy message.

They tried to figure out the pig clue but it was a challenge for them at first.

They first looked for HAM in the refridgerator!  Ha ha!  Good guess but nope that's not it!

Finally Nicholas figured out that it referred to ham radio and he checked the ham station where they found the key to their handcuffs as well as the directions for the next challenge.

Nicholas got them both out of their handcuffs and they were off to the next game.

I used an old printer's tray drawer that used to hold alphabet ties for printing presses.  I have it with a great craft in mind but that just hasn't happened yet so I was happy to be able to put it to some good use.  The tray held blue and green cups for Nicholas and red and pink cups for Rachel.  They were each given a jar of pom poms.  They were instructed to stand in place and drop or toss the pom poms into the cups.

It seems easy enough but look at all of the pom poms that didn't make it into the cups!

Once all of the pom poms were gone, they counted up the ones that landed in cups to see which of them got the most in. 

The winner was Rachel so she got her back to school goody bag first.

 

I always give them a little something at the start of the school year.  It usually contains some school items like the timer, Subraction Wrap Ups activity, 100 piece puzzle, and a mini-crystal dig kit.  I also include something for them to fidget with while I read aloud to them.  This year I found this cool Mega Twiddle thingymabob.  I had fun playing with it in the store!  There is usually candy and something just for fun like the cool light up cube.

We start back to school tomorrow and I'm excited.  It's going to be a great school  year!

Tinker Crate Drawbot {Save $10 on your first crate!}

Nicholas received his new Tinker Crate subscription in the mail.  Tinker Crate is an amazing hands-on project kit that is delivered each month.  The projects are based on science, technology and engineering.  

This month Nicholas will be making a Drawbot drawing robot!  How cool!

(Want to know more about Tinker Crates or the other fun project and craft crates that are offered for different ages?  Just click this link and learn more plus get a $10 credit toward purchasing your first crate!)

Every month Tinker Crate sends him a box with all of the supplies needed except things like scissors.   This kit includes a bot base, battery pack, velcro strips, velcro coins, 2 AA batteries, sticky foam donuts, paper, markers, modeling clay, motor and bushings and gear.

He began the Drawbot assembly by making the motor.   This will bring the bot to life!

Next he began assembly of the bot body.  The instructions are always easy to follow and come complete with pictures for each step.  I like to watch him build his creations but he never lets me help him.  He likes doing these projects independently which makes me a proud mama, especially since he always does a great job of completing them correctly and rather quickly.

The Drawbot body is complete.  Once the motor is attached this little guy will draw on its own!

Presenting his own Tinker Crate Drawbot!

The Drawbot is so much fun to watch.  It bee bops around the big sheet of paper all on its own.

Nicholas learned to adjust the path and pattern of the Drawbot by changing the shape of the clay on the motor or by changing the position of the motor or battery pack or even by adjusting the height of the makers.

For more information about Tinker Crate, check out the Kiwi Crate website.  If you use my affiliate link you will get $10 off your order of one of their many awesome crates - http://www.kiwicrate.com/m/referral/?i=KimberlyC68

They offer Koala Crates for kids ages 3-4, Kiwi Crates for ages 4-8, Tinker Crates are building projects for ages 9-16+, and Doodle Crates are craft projects for ages 9-16+.  You can purchase one box or sign up for a subscription and save money!

Rachel gets the Kiwi Crates and Nicholas gets the Tinker Crates.  They both love finding their crates on the doorstep each month.  

Note: By clicking on my affiliate link, I get a small credit on our account to help pay for next month's crates for my kids.  However, it will also give you an awesome $10 credit to go towards your first crate purchase!