SOTW Vol 1 Resources for Chapter 0

 

This list is not meant to replace or replicate the Story of the World Vol 1 text nor the Story of the World Vol 1 activity book. However, it is meant to be a list of GREAT current books (most still in print, but there are a few exceptions) that can be used in conjunction with the SOTW or other history curriculums, as a supplement.

 Books about archaeology:

Archaeology for Kids by Richard Panchyk <—By far MY FAVORITE archaeology book for kids; it has wonderful activities; many of which I will be highlighting on my blog.  If I had only ONE book about archaeology, this would be it!

Archaeology (DK Eyewitness) by Jane McIntosh

Fossil (DK Eyewitness) by Paul Taylor

Hands-On Archaeology:  Real-Life Activities for Kids by Dr. John White  <—another GREAT book that makes archaeology interactive and not a dry, dull subject.

Fossils Tell of Long Ago by Aliki (Let’s Read and Find Out Science readers) – I LOVE these readers.  They are designed for grades 1-4, and have a "Magic School Bus” or “Magic Tree House” feel while being realistic!  In this story, three kids venture out with an archaeologist, who helps them understand what this career and field of study encompass.

Archaeologists dig for clues by Kate Duke (Let’s Read and Find Out Science reader)

Ask Dr. Dig: Everything You Need to Know about Archaeology (kindle) by Angela Murock Hussein

Bones Rock! Everything You Need to Know to be a Paleontologist by Peter Larson

The Hero Schliemann: The Dreamer Who Dug for Troy by Laura Amy Schlitz – the story of the archaeologist who discovered Troy

The Kids Guide to Lost Cities by Sean Stewart Price

Books that demonstrate how an area evolves through time:

City Across Time by Peter Kent

How People Lived by DK Publishing (updated version of the out of print book A Street Through Time (DK) by Anne Millarad)

Stephen Biesty’s Incredible Explosion (out of print) has a large 4 page pull-out that shows an area evolving from before man to modern time.

Books about family history/understanding lapse of time:

Me and My Family Tree by Joan Sweeney – from the author of the highly acclaimed Me on the Map; I also LOVE Me Counting Time, which explains time from seconds to centuries.  (If you haven’t checked out any of Joan Sweeney’s books, I’d highly recommend all of them!)

Roots for Kids:  A genealogy guide for young people by Susan Beller – this was designed to be a 4th grade curriculum in understanding family history/genealogy.

Kids and Grandparents:  An Activity book by Ann Love – a sweet book that lets kids and grandparents connect better by understanding how the worlds that they grew/grow up in differ.  Grandparents can be near or far to participate in these activities with their grandchildren.

Evie Finds Her Family Tree by Ashley Ransburg -- Cute story where Evie goes in search of the "family tree".  She learns that each tree she encounters is like a a different family member, and how they all work together to form her history.  This is a great FIRST book to introduce genealogy to VERY YOUNG children (ages 6 or below).

Out of print books: (check your local library for these)

I Can be an Archaeologist by Robert Pickering  <—another cute book, if you can find it at your library

Archaeologists by Rose Inserra

Magic School Bus Show and Tells: A Book about Archaeology by Joanna Cole

Usborne Introduction to Archaeology

Lost Cities by Joyce Goldenstern

My Great-great-great-great-great-grandfather... Was a Warrior! by Margherita Sgarlata

Climbing your Family Tree: Online and Off-line Genealogy for Kids by Ira Wolfram

Making archaeology hands-on:

Fossil Sorting Kit from Educational Insights, or if you prefer less fossils, try the 7 fossil kit from Geoworld.  While you are studying fossils, don’t forget to purchase a fossil field guide from Golden guides.  (We LOVE this field guide to help us identify our fossils!)

Smithsonian Diggin’ Up Dinosaurs kit

Safari Ltd Ancient Fossils toob, Dino skulls toob, prehistoric sea life toob, prehistoric sharks toob, or prehistoric life toob  

DIG!  Discover Indian Relics – I really like this kit because it contains Native American artifacts, as well as pottery sherds (all are casts, not real), similar to what you would find at an excavation site.  Plus, they must be dug out of a hard excavation block.

Have a budding archaeologist?  Then don’t forget about Dig Magazine!

Online Games and Activities:

Dig Deeper Quiz from BBC History -- quiz for older kids that tests their knowledge of ancient history, using artifac
Be an Archaeologist from Nova -- Reassemble a pot from sherds

Dirt Detective from Colonial Williamsburg -- kids explore dirt to determine which is oldest.

Archaeology for Kids from National Parks Service

Ideas and blog posts:

- Changes over Time – A simple look at how objects have changed over time.  Sorting cards printable included.

- Reconstructing pottery – Become an archaeologist and try to reconstruct a piece of pottery from sherds.

- Why archaeologists must act quickly when they discover a frozen mummy

- Recordkeeping at it’s finest

- Trashed!

- Dig it Up!

Did you see Sweet Phenomena’s post about 9 ways to teach archaeology?  Check it out here!

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Note:  Items above are linked to my Amazon affiliate account.  The very small amount of money that I make on Amazon is used to support our curriculum needs.  Photos are taken from Amazon.