Archive for the ‘History’ Category

Rummy Roots Card Game

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

rummy-roots-card-game

Rummy Roots is a card game where your children can learn Greek and Latin root words. In the pre-Rummy Roots game, you match the English word to the Greek or Latin word. It’s like a go-fish game. In the real Rummy Roots card game, you join two or more Greek or Latin roots together to form English words. This is a lot harder and wasn’t as fun for my kids as the easier version of the game.

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My 10-year-old son was the only one that liked the real Rummy Roots game better than the easier version, so if you have high school students, you can probably skip to the real game and be fine. This game would definitely help in building vocabulary for reading comprehension as well as improve SAT scores.

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learn-latin-roots

Colosseum Bricks: A Disaster

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

colosseum-bricksDon’t buy the Colosseum bricks that I showed you on my Ancient Rome Unit Study YouTube video. They’re totally stupid. I don’t know how the manufacturer expects children to use them. They are lightweight like styrofoam, and they are supposed to be attached by hot glue. But hot glue melts the bricks slightly, and it’s too thick to look good. It is severely frustrating, because the bricks don’t stick together properly. You have to cut them into triangles with a sharp knife to make wedges. Really? Children are supposed to wield a sharp knife to make wedges out of styrofoam?! And then they’re supposed to not burn themselves with the hot glue gun that’s a bazzillion degrees? Okay…

Since my 10-year-old son screamed, “Mom! It’s impossible to make a Colosseum with these bricks! Can I make a castle instead?”

I said, “Sure.”colosseum-bricks-2

My children made castles and other structures (without sharp knives and burning equipment) and later knocked them down with only a slight gust of wind.

I just wanted everyone to know that I give this product a thumbs down. Really down. Like, my thumb is almost touching the floor; it’s that low…

Instead, maybe people can use wooden blocks, but you need a lot. This is what I recommend. Grab the phone and call a homeschool family. Ask them, “Do you own a set of wooden blocks?”

If the person says, “No,” then you say, “Never mind. Have a good day.” Hang up. (When I’ve done this to people, they call me back, laughing, asking for an explanation…)

colosseum-bricks-3On the other hand, if the person says, “Why, yes. We DO own a set of wooden blocks.” Then you say, “Come on over with your blocks, and we can build the Colosseum of Rome. Wouldn’t that be grand?”

In which case they will answer, “What a fabulous idea. I’ll be right over…”

You must call several homeschool families, depending on how large you want your Colosseum to be. Watch out, since blocks are hard, and the Colosseum is tall. Anyone who doesn’t want a bloody foot should exit the room. Yes, maybe we should let teenagers do this…

Don’t Study Latin

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

study-latinI grew up speaking Spanish, and because I know Spanish, I automatically know all the Latin root words. Latin is a dead language. It’s dead. Nobody speaks it. With the same amount of time you would use to study Latin, you can learn a language that you can use to communicate with other people. Millions of people, for example, speak Spanish.

At the risk of ticking people off (and the more you’re ticked off, the more it’s probably true), I would like to say that people who study Latin are snobs. Yep. Go on and throw tomatoes. I’m good at dodging.

Look, if you have a classical bent to your homeschool, you’re obviously a thinking person. You’ve chosen the most rigorous style of homeschooling, probably for the sake of your children having a better, higher education than you did. (I myself have a classical bent, since I was a literature major in college and was an English teacher for years. So don’t get mad that I don’t like the classical mind set, because this would not be true.)

All I’m saying is that the study of Latin is dreadfully boring. You’re punishing your children. Are you just checking off the boxes of what you should do for a classical education just to say you did it? Or worse, to boast about your children? Then refer to paragraph 2. (Ouch, that wasn’t a tomato. Keep reading. Maybe you’ll like me after all.)

If you absolutely must study a classical language, choose Greek. At least with the study of Greek you can understand the Word of God better. Plus, the people of Greece actually speak Greek. I’ve been to Greece, and I’ve heard Greek being spoken. It’s definitely a live language. So, you see, I’m not dissing all classical languages, just the ones that have no practical use.

The bottom line is this: our time is precious and limited. Don’t you want the greatest amount of good done in the least amount of time? If you can actually learn the Latin roots while at the same time learning a real live language that is the second language of our country, why not do it?

Ancient Rome Unit Study

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

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This video shows you what I’ve planned to do for my Ancient Rome Unit Study. I show you: the books we are reading, the hands-on activities we will do, and the game we are playing to learn Latin roots.

Some of the hands-on learning activities are a Roman sculpture, mosaics, Colosseum bricks, and painting a mural. I show several varieties of mosaics, and which ones work better than others. Watch the video tutorial to see all the details!

Here are links to some of these activities:

For more unit study ideas, join the Unit Study Treasure Vault.