Tools of the Ancient Greeks

Summary: 

Tools of the Ancient Greeks: A Kid's Guide to the History and Science of Life in Ancient Greece explores how the scientific discoveries, athletic innovations, engineering marvels, and ideas about the world created by Greeks more than two thousand years ago still affect our lives today. Life in ancient Greece comes alive with 15 hands-on activities for kids 9-12.

Build ItSocial Studies
Review: 

"Interesting text and activities."—Metrokids Pennsylvania

Resources: 

Archibald, Zofia. Discovering the World of the Ancient Greeks. New York: Facts on File, 1991.
Boardman, John; Griffin, Jasper; Murray, Oswyn. Greece and the Hellenistic World. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.
Burrell, Roy. The Greeks. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990.
Clare, John D. (editor). Ancient Greece. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace, 1993.
Davis, William Stearns. A Day in Old Athens. Cheshire, CT: Biblo-Moser, 1960.
Garland, Robert. Daily Life of the Ancient Greeks. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998.
Gilbert, Adrian. Going to War in Ancient Greece. Danbury, CT: Franklin Watts, 2001.
Greenblatt, Miriam. Alexander the Great and Ancient Greece. New York: Benchmark Books, 2000.
Hart, Eloise. “The Delphic Oracle.” Sunrise magazine, October/November 1985.Theosophical University Press.
Nardo, Don. Life in Ancient Athens. San Diego, CA: Lucent Books, 2000.
Nardo, Don. Life in Ancient Greece. San Diego, CA: Lucent Books, 1996.
Pearson, Anne. Ancient Greece. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1992.
Philip, Neil. Myths and Legends. New York: DK Publishing, Inc. 1999.
Philip, Neil. Mythology of the World. Boston: Kingfisher Publications, 2004.
Powell, Anton. Ancient Greece, Cultural Atlas for Young People. Oxford, England: Equinox, 1989.

Encyclopedia Mythica—    http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/greek/articles.html
Hellenic Ministry of Culture—http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21101a/e211aa03.html
Metropolitan Museum—http://www.metmuseum.org
Minnesota State University Mankato—
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/information/biography/pqrst/schliemann_heinr...
The Perseus Project/tufts—http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/
Technology Museum of Thessaloniki—http://www.tmth.edu.gr/en/aet/1/13.html
Washington State University—http://www.wsu.edu
MSN Encarta, 2003
http://www.physlink.com/Reference/GreekAlphabet.cfm
http://www.egypttourism.org/New%20Site/places/bibliotheca_alexandrina.htm
http://www.bookrags.com/notes/od/BIO.htm

 

About the Author: 

Kris Bordessa's work has appeared in more than 50 national and regional publications, including FamilyFun, Nick Jr. Family Magazine and Parenting. She is the author of Tools of the Ancient Greeks: a Kid's Guide to the History and Science of Life in Ancient Greece and Great Colonial Projects You Can Build Yourself.

About the Illustrator: 

Shawn Braley, Shawn Braley is an award-winning illustrator. He attended the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, Inc. He specializes in cartoon and editorial illustration. Braley is also a world traveler, musician, cat owner, and comic art collector. He lives in Southern Vermont. http://www.shawnbraley.com

Activity Description: 

Archimedes explored the concepts of geometry by playing a game called Stomachion.
Some records refer to this game as loculus Archimedius (Archimedes’ box).

Coming Soon

PUB DATE April 2011—More than 2,000 years ago, ancient Greek scholars named seven of the most wondrous monuments to civilization.

Featured Author

Featured Review

"…Fun book about an otherwise daunting culture. Kids will enjoy the format of the book with its cartoon-like drawings and jokes. The text is punctuated with fun fonts and sidebars that enrich the historical narrative of the text. Very fun activities make learning about this culture a great experience.