Just reading about History can be boring for kids. When I was a kid in public school, History was my least favorite subject. I have always opted for hands-on History resources, a way to make history real to my kids. I dont just want them to learn about History, I want them to EXPERIENCE it! By teaching them History in this manner I have not only fostered a deep love and interest for my children, but for myself. The Ancient Rome Online Unit Study by Techie Homeschool Mom has been a fun and exciting way to us to learn about the Ancient Romans.
If you’ve spent any time reading my blog or following me on social media, you know that I love topical Unit Studies. Unit Studies are a perfect way to dig deeper into a subject and explore all the threads in the rich tapestry of History. This Ancient Rome Online Unit Study (OUS) has the added benefit of being online, self-paced, and interactive – drawing my tech saavy kids in right from the start. Once you purchase the course, you have indefinite access!
This was our first time using an online unit study, but the format is easy to navigate. You just start at the beginning, complete each lesson module, then click the “complete and continue” button which takes you on to the next activity. Another feature of this study I love is the fact that it is multi-age appropriate. It is designed with middle elementary to middle school ages in mind but because so much of the material is presented in video format, even very young children can glean something from participating! You could easily use this with high school aged students by requiring them to do some extra research on their own and maybe even requiring a final presentation of some kind at the end of the study.
This study covers the following topics:
- Introduction to Ancient Rome
- Roman Mythology
- Daily Life in Rome
- Roman Architecture and Engineering
- Roman Government
- The Roman Language
- Entertainment in Ancient Rome
- Roman Military and War
This unit study includes a great variety of activities for you to choose from. Links to interactive websites, articles, and video content are sprinkled throughout every module. I found the material linked in the study to be educationally valuable yet still appropriate for children. At the bottom of most pages, there is a discussion component where your student can answer questions asked in the activities and interact with other students studying the same topics as they are.
There are several hands-on projects included in the study that don’t require you to go out and purchase a lot of extra supplies – most are items you likely already have lying around in your home. Two projects we decided to complete were to build a Pantheon model using craft sticks, balloons and paper mache and creating a mosaic using construction paper. I have included photos of our finished products below.
Literature reccommendations are also included with several options for various reading levels. At the end of each module there is a “Book Club” section with general questions for your child to answer from his reading selection. There are also reading selections in the lesson using an app called EPIC! which provides an amazing selection of e-books for kids. This is a subscription based app, but you can sign up for a 30-day free trial and cancel if you don’t wish to subscribe (we did subscribe as we loved the selection).
For a fun way to wrap-up your study of Ancient Rome, there is a interactive project. Using a free game app, your child will create their own “cards” realting to their study within the “Heads Up” app. To play the game, one player displays a word (but can’t see it) and other players needs to act out or describe the word. You try to guess it correctly before time runs out. This is a app version of a game we already own and love to play, and the kids have enjoyed trying to create “cards” to stump each other!
There is also a list of suggested movies portraying life and events in Ancient Rome at the end of the unit. It is suggested you finalize your study by having a movie and game night, watching one of the recommended films and playing “Heads Up” using the deck your student created. I think this is a great way to celebrate finishing your study of Ancient Rome.
We really enjoyed this Ancient Rome Online Unit Study and would highly recommend it to other homeschooling families. I found it to be a great balance of thorough learning and fun, engaging activities. Techie Homeschool Mom also offers other online unit studies, including:
- Ancient Egypt Online Unit Study
- Ancient Greece Online Unit Study
- Famous Artists Online Unit Study (Vol. 1)
- Famous Artists Online Unit Study (Vol. 2)
- Famous Inventors Online Unit Study
- Solar System Online Unit Study
Make sure you head on over to the Review Crew blog to read more reviews of this and the other online unit studies available…
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