In September, this question was asked:
I like to use a spine, such as Mystery of History, for our chronological history rotations, but my children really enjoy literature based unit studies and lapbooking. Is there any way I can combined them, without it being overwhelming for me or my kids?
We shared ways to enhance MOH Volume 1, Ancients, with unit studies and lapbooks from Homeschool Share in this post, and MOH Volume 2, Early Church to the Middle Ages, in this post. This month we will cover MOH Volume 3. Mystery of History Volume 3 covers the period from the Renaissance and Reformation through the Age of Discovery, approximately A.D. 1455 until A.D. 1700. You will find many FREE resources for this period in history on Homeschool Share’s Renaissance and Reformation Connections Page. The Reformation Unit Study & Lapbook and Explorer Unit with Notebooking Pages can be used throughout the whole volume, as well as the numerous other Free Unit Studies, Notebooking Pages, and Lapbooks. I recommend printing and preparing all the lapbook components you intend to use and storing them in labeled gallon size Ziplocs before beginning. You might also consider putting together a Lap-n-Note in a notebook, instead of a file folder type lapbook. Whichever you choose, be sure to add photos of your children and their completed MOH activities to savor the memories! Here are some more specific recommendations for each quarter:
Quarter 1 – A.D. 1455 – 1521
In this quarter you will be introduced to some Renaissance artists which are a great way to have some Tea Time fun in your homeschool. HSS’s Explorer Unit with Notebooking Pages is a great fit for this quarter, and you will also dabble a bit in the Reformation, which can be enhanced with the applicable lessons and printables from Homeschool Share’s Reformation Unit Study & Lapbook.
Lessons 2, 6, 13 – Michelangelo’s Surprise is a delightful picture book telling the story of Michelangelo working for the Medici family. You can begin it during the Medici lessons (2 and 6) or wait till you get to the Michelangelo lesson (13). Your children may also enjoy these Tea Time with Michelangelo activities.
Lesson 3 – When studying about Ferdinand and Isabella, my kids loved completing the unit study for The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, which now includes free lapbook components!
Lesson 5 – Reinforce what you learn about the Cape of Good Hope explorers with applicable lessons and printables from HSS’s Explorer Unit with Notebooking Pages.
Lesson 7 – As you learn about Columbus, continue with the Explorer Unit with Notebooking Pages and also enjoy Joaquin Miller’s “Columbus” Poetry Study or the Pedro’s Journal Unit Study.
Lesson 9 – While reading about Western African empires, choose a unit from HSS’s Africa Connections Page such as Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears.
Lesson 12 – Enjoy Leonardo’s Horse Unit Study as a primer for the lesson on Leonardo di Vinci.
Lesson 17 – Have Tea Time with Raphael while doing this lesson.
Lessons 18 & 21 – Plenty of Martin Luther resources, including Mini-Unit and Lapbook and Luther’s 95 Theses and Pocket are found in the Reformation Unit Study & Lapbook.
Lessons 19 & 20 – Carry on with the Explorer Unit with Notebooking Pages as you study Cortés, Pizarro, and Magellan.
Quarter 2 – A.D. 1522 – A.D. 1572
In this quarter you’ll get better acquainted with the movers and shakers of the Reformation. Your older children can complete the activities in the Reformation Unit Study & Lapbook as you come across them in the lessons. Your younger children will likely enjoy the Clown of God Unit Study during this quarter.
Lesson 24 – Choose a unit study from the HSS Amish Connections Page as you learn about the Anabaptists.
Lesson 25 – HSS has an India Country Lapbook and a few enjoyable resources including One Grain of Rice Unit Study & Lapbook, The Story of Little Babaji Unit Study, and Once a Mouse Unit Study that would tie in nicely to this lesson on India.
Lesson 26 – Utilize Henry VIII resources from the Reformation Unit Study & Lapbook.
Lesson 26 & 27 – Older children can watch A Man for All Seasons about Henry VIII and Sir Thomas More and complete Movie Lapbook.
Lesson 30 – A John Calvin Mini Unit and Lapbook is included in the Reformation Unit.
Lesson 33 – Expand your study of the North American explorers with the Explorer Unit
Lesson 34 – A William Tyndale Mini-Unit and Lapbook is included in the Reformation Unit
Lesson 35 – Copernicus Notebook Page will help retain information gathered in this lesson. Younger children can take a trip through the solar system, Cat in the Hat style, with this There’s No Place Like Space Unit Study, and older elementary children can peruse the Unit Study for Maria’s Comet.
Lesson 37 – Utilize Mary Tudor resources from the Reformation Unit
Lesson 38 – Utilize Elizabeth I resources from the Reformation Unit .
Lesson 39 – A John Knox Mini Unit and Lapbook is included in the Reformation Unit.
Lesson 40 – Mary, Queen of Scots Unit and Lapbook will expand on this lesson.
Quarter 3 – A.D. 1572 – 1632
In this quarter you’ll be introduced to three Renaissance era astronomers so it lends itself well to some Solar System rabbit trails. Shakespeare will also be covered in this quarter. Don’t feel the need to rush through these MOH lessons. There are 28 Volume 3 lessons to be covered in a typically 38 week school year, leaving lots of time to follow interests in between!
Lesson 43 – As you learn about Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, you can record facts on these Notebook Pages. And if you didn’t do the There’s No Place Like Space Unit Study in lesson 35, now would be a good time! Or choose another resource from the Outer Space Connections Page.
Lesson 44 – As you learn about Drake, you can read and complete a unit study about five brothers who also sailed across the vast Pacific in Island Below the Star.
Lesson 49 – No Renaissance study is complete without indulging in some Shakespeare! Here are Shakespeare Notebook Pages that can be used with your choices of adaptations or originals. You may want to focus just on Shakespeare for a week or two before moving on to your next MOH lesson.
Lesson 52 – Watch a video of Don Quixote and complete a Movie Lapbook.
Lesson 53 – Choose a resource from the Australia Connections Page.
Lessons 54, 56, 57 – Don’t miss d’Aulaires’s beautiful tale of the first colony at Jamestown and complete the go-along Pocahontas Lapbook. If you watch the animated version of Pocohontas, complete a Movie Lapbook. Or, your children may find A Lion to Guard Us pleasurable.
Lesson 55 – Do you have a 4th – 6th grader? You could assign this Stuart Little Unit Study about a mouse that lives near the Hudson.
Lessons 59 & 60 – Goody O’ Grumpity is a delightful picture book about a colonial Pilgrim woman. Or pick another resource from HSS’s Thanksgiving Connections Page.
Lesson 63 – While learning about Galileo, if not completed in lessons 35 or 43, younger children can take a trip through the solar system, Cat in the Hat style, with this There’s No Place Like Space Unit Study, and older elementary children can peruse the Unit Study for Maria’s Comet. Or choose another resource from the Outer Space Connections Page.
Quarter 4 – A.D. 1634 – A.D. 1707
Lesson 65 – As you admire the works of Rembrandt, read and complete a FREE Unit Study and Lapbook for Hana in the Time of Tulips.
Lesson 69 – This Periodic Table Lapbook or Chemistry Unit and Lapbook may be nice additions to the lesson Boyle.
Lesson 70 – If you shared the Unit Study for Maria’s Comet in the previous quarter, remind your child that Maria was a Quaker like George Fox. If not, you may want to share it now.
Lesson 73 – Expand on Scotland by sharing the Always Room for One More and/or
Frog Went A-Courtin’ Unit Studies. You’ll also find Scotland printables on the Europe Connections Page.
Lesson 74 – Select a literature based unit study or other China resource including HSS’s China Country Study and Lapbook, Story About Ping Lapbook and Printables, and The Empty Pot Lapbook, Or, for individual China lapbook components, visit our Misc. Lapbook Components Page.
No Lesson – During this quarter you can enjoy Tea Time with Basho, a poet who lived 1644 – 1694. This is a fun activity, that can be used in one of the extra weeks MOH allows.
Lesson 75 – Complete Newton’s Three Laws of Motion Window Book.
Lesson 76 – View A Pilgrim’s Progress and complete Movie Lapbook.
Lesson 77 – Boost the William Penn lesson with Pennsylvania printables found HERE.
Lesson 82 – Learn more about the Anabaptists sharing a resource from the HSS Amish Connections Page such as one of our favorites, Just Plain Fancy.
Lesson 83 – Enhance your lesson on Peter I by sharing The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship: A Russian Tale.
Lesson 84 – Have Tea Time with Isaac Watts.
Phew! We made it through! Hopefully there is something here you’ll find an enjoyable supplement to MOH Vol. 3. Next month we’ll share resources for Modern History.
