Micronations
Teacher Resources

Micronations: Invent Your Own Country and Culture with 25 Projects

By Kathy Ceceri  
Illustrated by Chad Thompson
For anyone who's ever dreamed of ruling over their own empire, here's your chance! Micronations are imaginary countries that have a lot of the same things as real ones: laws, customs, history-even their own flags, coins, and postage stamps. Micronations: Invent Your Own Country and Culture takes readers step-by-step to create their own unique realm, using examples from real nations, micronations, and fictional lands. What makes a country a country? What symbols and systems define a country and help it function? Learn about geography and government, technology and the environment, art and culture, and the literary device of "world-building" used in works like The Hobbit, Harry Potter, and the video game Minecraft. Activities show readers how to create authentic-looking artifacts and documents such as maps, currency, passports, a declaration of independence, and a constitution. Kids get to invent their own language, music, games, clothing, food, and holidays to fit their micronation's traditions-anything that helps make their micronation seem real. Whether they create a land of time travel where every city exists in a different epoch, a peaceful realm where everyone is required to listen to 10 minutes of music every morning, or an underwater monarchy (motto: "Bubbles, bubbles and more bubbles") whose chief export is fish, Micronations: Invent Your Own Country and Culture will engage kids' imagination and teach make-believe rulers how the real world works.
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Reviews

Library Media Connection
“Micronations are nations that have been created by adults, children, groups, or individuals. Ceceri describes all the aspects which go into setting up a micronation; choosing a flag, a language, a currency, and the land or water formation on which to set it up. Drawings are found throughout the book. Each chapter has a "Words to Know" section with definitions of terms. Included with the descriptions are 25 projects, such as how to make coins from clay, how to make a patriotic sash to wear, and how to make your own disaster movie. This book would be useful in a Social Studies class that was studying government. Recommended”

Momma's Bacon
“Think you could make your own country and culture?  It's not as easy as you think!  The 25 fun projects in this book not only help children learn about why rules and regulations are important in a society, it also shows them how they can be created.  Brilliant! Project include create authentic-looking artifacts and documents such as maps, currency, passports, a declaration of independence, and a constitution.  You can even create your own language.  ZARB (that means 'cool' in our country.)  This is a fun and cool way for kids 9 and up to get a taste of how it really might feel to be a leader.”

Bookloons
“This book offers a creative way to teach older children how governments function and why geography, civics and economics are important. The 25 hands-on projects and activities show the reader how to create authentic looking maps, currency, passports, and even a constitution, A very useful guide for creating some fun and informative units on civics and related subjects.”

Charlotte's Library
“Ceceri walks kids through all the things that go into making a modern country--the physical features of the land, the basics of government and economy, the symbolic elements of nation building, and more.  Generously interspersed with matter of fact discussions of such topics are interesting facts and activities (which seem entertaining, do-able, and useful), and I must say that I loved the interesting facts very much!  It's very much worth using in an educational setting, and even worth giving in a more casual way to your kid at home who has a penchant for social studies trivia!”

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Detailed Book Description

For anyone who's ever dreamed of ruling over their own empire, here's your chance! Micronations are imaginary countries that have a lot of the same things as real ones: laws, customs, history-even their own flags, coins, and postage stamps. Micronations: Invent Your Own Country and Culture takes readers step-by-step to create their own unique realm, using examples from real nations, micronations, and fictional lands. What makes a country a country? What symbols and systems define a country and help it function? Learn about geography and government, technology and the environment, art and culture, and the literary device of "world-building" used in works like The Hobbit, Harry Potter, and the video game Minecraft.

Activities show readers how to create authentic-looking artifacts and documents such as maps, currency, passports, a declaration of independence, and a constitution. Kids get to invent their own language, music, games, clothing, food, and holidays to fit their micronation's traditions-anything that helps make their micronation seem real. Whether they create a land of time travel where every city exists in a different epoch, a peaceful realm where everyone is required to listen to 10 minutes of music every morning, or an underwater monarchy (motto: "Bubbles, bubbles and more bubbles") whose chief export is fish, Micronations: Invent Your Own Country and Culture will engage kids' imagination and teach make-believe rulers how the real world works.

Available In:
Hardcover, $21.95
9781619302181
Paperback, $16.95
9781619302228
Includes: Table of Contents | Timeline | Charts | Glossary | Resources | Index
Specs: 8 x 10 size | black and white interior | 128 pages
Subject: Social Studies
Content Focus: Geography

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction
Create Your Own Micronation

Chapter 1
What Makes a Country a Country?

Chapter 2
The Lay of the Land—The Physical Geography of Your Country

Chapter 3
Law and Order—How Your Country Runs

Chapter 4
The Material World—Your Country’s Economy

Chapter 5
All Systems Go—Your Country’s Infrastructure

Chapter 6
Cultural Geography—Forge Your Own National Identity

Chapter 7
Your Country and the World

Glossary
Resources
Index