Necessity is the mother of invention. You can learn much about people and cultures by studying the things they invented.
Inventions from the Bronze Age is the second of the History Unschooled: Inventions collection to help homeschoolers and unschoolers teach history. Kids will use entertaining fiction, their own curiosity, writing and speaking exercises, plus games, puzzles and backyard experiments to get out of the textbook and into a more entertaining form of learning.
It's the UNtextbook!
Students will learn about smelting, boats, paper and other "inventions" from the Stone Age. Plus they will get to know what life was like before and after the inventions and the necessities that led someone to invent to them.
Since each topic is an invention, it was easy to incorporate STEAM-based learning with activities that support Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. When you add all that along with the reading, writing, research, and history that are inherent in this book, students get a well-rounded (UN)curriculum.
How to use this book:
Students will learn history through human inventions
Since the dawn of our species, we've been thinking and creating based on our needs and lifestyles. This book will help students learn about the Bronze Age by studying the most important discoveries of the times.
The UN-textbook helps students think on their own
The concept is to allow students to think and learn without a textbook full of facts to memorize (and quickly forget after the quiz). Instead, kids can immerse themselves in fictional stories to experience the time period.
Then, they'll find thought provoking questions and topics to research, write about and discuss. How they do that is up to the parents and students. Should they write an essay? Take sides in a formal debate? Or simply discuss over dinner?
Encourage reading, writing, and research along the way
This book encourages all types of reading and writing as well as oral presentations. Besides the lists of fiction and nonfiction books, each chapter has opportunities for writing, critical thinking, research and discussion.
Research is an important life skill for anyone to have regardless of whether a student is college bound. We recommend starting there before beginning the historic units, especially with older students. They'll have ample opportunity to use their newfound research skills throughout the year.
Have fun with STEAM-based activities
Since each topic is an invention, it was easy to incorporate Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math into the learning.
The whole family can learn together
If you have multiple students in various grades, they all can learn together. Each invention chapter includes family-friendly activities at all education levels:
Level 1 indicates easy activities for elementary students.
Level 2 involves more reading and simple research skills for middle school ages.
Level 3 encourages a higher level of research and writing skills for high school age students.
You or your older students can choose to do all of the activities, or just those on the higher levels.
