Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself! (Build It Yourself series) [Paperback]

Kris Bordessa (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Build It Yourself series

From colonial fashions and trades to biographies on key historical figures such as Captain John Smith and Thomas Jefferson, this interactive guide blends engaging activities with facts and trivia about early America. Encouraging readers to explore the daily lives of early colonists, common household items are used for such activities as rug braiding, candle making, weather forecasting, and various Native American games. A colonial time line, common terms used in early American life, and a directory of famous historic sites is also included.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An abundant and valuable resource for engaging students in understanding early American life."  —Jack Larkin, chief historian and museum scholar, Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, Massachusetts

"This book should be a hit with families, teachers, and history museums."  —Paula Locklair, vice president strategic planning, Old Salem Museums and Gardens, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

"This is one of the best books for children about Colonial America. History teachers should own this book."  —Children's Literature

"An educational yet fun approach to history."  —Family Fun

"A treat for those mothers with young children who want to bring the colonial period to life for them."  —Connie Lapallo, author, Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky

"If you're looking for new ways to spend time with your kids this fall season—really any season—Great Colonial America Projects You Build Yourself is both a good resource and an engaging read."  —bloggernews.net

About the Author

Kris Bordessa is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in more than 50 publications, including FamilyFun, Nick Jr. Family Magazine, and Parenting. She is the author of Team Challenges: Group Activities to Build Cooperation, Communication, and Creativity. She lives in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Nomad Press (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977129403
• ISBN-13: 978-0977129409
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #427,953 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My website: http://www.krisbordessa.com

My weblog: http://greatsolutions.blogspot.com

I believe that hands-on learning is the best kind of learning, whether for adults or children - and certainly for myself! Long before I imagined Team Challenges as a book, I was scrawling challenges on lined paper for my creative problem solving groups to use during their meetings. Those sheets of paper - never tidy - and the kids' love of tackling these problems led me to compile the activities in one place, resulting in Team Challenges. Shortly after I completed Team Challenges, I had the opportunity to pen two new books: Tools of the Ancient Greeks and Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself. Though a bit different in nature - history is a far cry from creative problem solving - both of these had that element I consider crucial for learning: hands-on activities.

I live on the Big Island of Hawai'i with my family, where I also write about family fun and travel for publications like Parents, Parenting, Islands, Disney's FamilyFun, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource, August 18, 2006

By 

Carmella Vanvleet "author" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself! (Build It Yourself series) (Paperback)

This is a really great resource! I wish it had been in print when I was a teacher. Most books on colonial America tend to be a bit dry. This one is visually appealing, lively and would be very useful if your child had to do a report or was just interested in this time period. It covers all the usual things like who the colonists were, what they ate, wore, did for fun and so forth, but it also covers unusual stuff like crime and punishment and fire fighting. In addition, there are directions for dozens of easy projects such as making your Liberty Bell puzzler, marigold dye, dipped candles and a tin lantern. None of the projects take a lot of time and use easy-to-find materials - both big pluses.

An index and glossary help add to the book's usefulness. Overall, a definite pick if you're studying American history.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great all-in-one resource!, February 13, 2007

By 

Connie Lapallo (Mechanicsville, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself! (Build It Yourself series) (Paperback)

I purchased this book expecting "great colonial projects" for my homeschooled kids, and it delivered. A friendly tone draws young readers in, while drawings and graphics make the text visually appealing.

However, this author has created a far more powerful resource than that. Ms. Bordessa includes bonus features: a timeline of the Colonial period (divided by both colony and year), background of voyages, maps, a glossary, and text boxes with interesting facts and charts. "Spotlight on Famous Colonists" provides a biographical reference. "Colonial Words to Know" are helpfully placed near the passages where they're used and are also highlighted in the text. Facts are in a frame of reference children can identify with. (For example, the colonists traveled 2,700 miles across the ocean at 2 m.p.h., about the speed of a skateboard!) In this way, the projects link to the larger colonial world.

Even adults who flip through the book will learning something new. I only wish this book had been available the first ten years I homeschooled my children! But what a treat for those mothers with young children who want to bring the colonial period to life for them.

Connie Lapallo
Author, Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Just kidding, right?, August 23, 2011

By 

M. Heiss (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself! (Build It Yourself series) (Paperback)

This book has DYNAMITE projects, if you can spend a couple of hundred dollars on parts and ingredients.

No regular child has ready access to 2 cups of marigold petals ... 2 yards of cheesecloth ... food processor and sharp knife ... an armload of willow branches ...

I think this book is geared toward older children, junior high or high school. The book itself is interesting, the text long and smart, but the intricacy of the projects and the materials needed for the crafts is so frustrating for kids. As a parent, I want my child to do the crafts. Not me do them while he watches, right?