Videos and Projects for Heroes and Happenings Volume 1 by Amy Lykosh
Please note I have not had time to watch all the movies and listen to the full audiobooks as of yet. Please let me know if you find any broken links or if you notice any errors or typos.
Chapter 1: The Explorer
Videos
A 45-minute video documentary about Vikings
A full-length cartoon movie about Leif Ericson (has a lot of sensitive moments, especially in the first 15 minutes, and some references to Viking mythology, so use with caution with sensitive children)
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
The book listed at the end here is already included in Sonlight’s HBL C program.
Coloring Pages (I will try to offer a couple of different pictures for each chapter, so you can choose one that fits your child best. I will try to include at least one more detailed and one less detailed if I can find them)
A detailed picture of Vikings building a boat (scroll down just a little)
Simpler picture of a cartoonish Viking
Crafts
Activity pages
Free Viking Printable Worksheets
Lapbooks
Free Viking Lapbook printable (scroll down)
Extra Books
You Wouldn’t Want to be a Viking Explorer (for younger and older children)
The Story of Rolf (grade 4-6 reader)
“Paper Doll” style printables
Viking male and female outfits and dolls to put them on (scroll down for multiple options)
Snacks and Recipes
Viking hat/house-shaped lunch idea
This website is listed as a “How to Train Your Dragon Party” but has many good ideas for Viking crafts and snacks.
Actual Viking-inspired meal ideas
Chapter 2: The Sailor
Videos
Rent Christopher Columbus: An Animated Classic for $3.99 from amazon video (full 1 hour 32 minutes). https://amzn.to/32aNghY. It also looks to be free here.
Shorter 30-minute cartoon version, but it has more sensitive spots as far as I’ve seen so far.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Columbus by Ingrid and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire-currently unavailable
Pedro’s Journal-didn’t include it because it will be used in HBL D.
Coloring Pages
Easy Picture of Columbus’s Ships
Easy Color-By-Number Picture of Columbus’s Ship (1-10, on the last page of the booklet)
Easy/Medium level picture of Columbus
Detailed/Hard picture of Columbus
Crafts
Cute and Easy Handprint Ship (no instructions included, but it looks pretty basic)
Interesting activity of painting ships using spices
Variety of Columbus-themed crafts all in one spot. The ship-in-a-bottle one looked especially fun.
Activity pages
Variety of Columbus-themed worksheets
Lapbooks
Extra Books
You Wouldn’t Wait to Sail with Christopher Columbus
Step Into Reading: Christopher Columbus (Level 3)
“Paper Doll” style printables
The website for these is broken, but the pictures are still available, so I will link them separately.
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ce/5d/e6/ce5de65e8f8bb2ece80d6036c44fcc18.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/58/07/dd/5807dde99bbac089027016e5ecaff30e.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b3/3b/c5/b33bc51a691805d4ec72eb3c39c77d9b.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/fc/e3/a3/fce3a3c78b02749a2d8e0afb02618093.jpg
Snacks and Recipes
I have found a bunch of snacks like this but using different items. I saw waffle bases, apples with cheese banners, and even an entire pirate/Columbus-style boat made out of watermelon.
Chapter 3: The Interpreter
Videos
Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale can be rented from Prime Video for $2.99. (affiliate link) movie review
Not Squanto, but related, on William Bradford and the First Thanksgiving
Pocahontas: Animated Hero Classics
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Squanto’s Journey by Joseph Bruchac
Squanto: Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla–included in HBL D
Pocahontas and the Strangers by Clyde Robert Bulla included in HBL D
A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla–included in HBL D
Coloring Pages
Variety of easier/medium coloring pages (keep scrolling down)
Crafts
It was far harder to find some culturally appropriate, easy, limited supply crafts that were easy to make and look great as an outcome without focusing more on Pilgrims and Thanksgiving rather than Squanto and friends. If you have any ideas, this area is seriously lacking. Here are some corn-related activities.
https://www.3dinosaurs.com/wordpress/index.php/corn-is-maize-yarn-corn-activity/
https://www.3dinosaurs.com/wordpress/index.php/fingerprint-corn/
Activity pages
https://kidskonnect.com/people/squanto/
Lapbooks
$3.00 lapbook about Pilgrims and Squanto and Thanksgiving
Extra Books
https://coolmompicks.com/blog/2015/11/21/childrens-books-about-thanksgiving-from-native-perspective/
“Paper Doll” style printables
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/7a/a3/14/7aa314381d959f28b159c429ef53d8af.jpg
Snacks and Recipes
Snack based on lesson Squanto taught.
Here’s a little more creative twist on that idea.
Chapter 4: The British Acts, et. al.
Videos
Liberty’s Kids Episode 101: The Boston Tea Party
Liberty’s Kids Episode 102: The Intolerable Acts
Liberty’s Kids Episode 103: United We Stand (Discussing the Acts)
The next episode covered by HBL K is 105, so you might also wish to watch
Liberty’s Kids Episode 104: Liberty or Death
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Can’t You Make Them Behave, King George by Jean Fritz–this is included in HBL D, but it’s pretty short and easy, so I’ll add the audiobook here as well, complete with a teaching guide.
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes–this is a VERY long book included in HBL D, so I am not including the audiobook.
Coloring Pages
Stamp Act Coloring Page (medium/hard)
Boston Tea Party Coloring Page (easy)
Boston Tea Party Coloring Page (hard)
Crafts
I can’t find any good crafts, but I had my own idea, so I’ll put it here.
Give your child a pile of coins. Pennies, dimes, etc. Just a small pile. Then tell them they are invited to a tea party after school. During the day, begin passing a series of ats. So, first, you pass the Stamp Act. Every time you need to use a book or workbook, you charge them a coin for that book. Even if they don’t want the book, they need it, so they have to pay the tax.
At random times during the day, walk around and tax your child for everything glass and everything painted. Glass windows, painted walls, etc. They will see their pile of money start to dwindle.
Next, have a tea party together, again taxing anything made of paper and each cup of “tea” they drink. Try to use up as much of their pile of money as you can. Don’t forget to tax any special snacks you have that use sugar or molasses in honor of the sugar act.
If they whine or complain that their money is dwindling, enforce the Intolerable Acts by punishing them by making new taxes.
At the end of the day, discuss how it felt to have all of their money taken away for taxes they weren’t expecting and if they can understand why people were so upset over time.
Lapbooks
Extra Books
You Wouldn’t Want to be at the Boston Tea Party
Chapter 5: The Shot
Videos
Coloring Pages
Activities
Interactive Game to Learn about Taxation
Timeline project of the Revolutionary War
Crafts
Games
An online game where you can choose which side of the battle you wish to be on
“Paper Doll” style printables
Paper Dolls for a variety of ages, but including some for the Revolutionary War
Snacks and Recipes
https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/05/family-dinner-soup-molasses-bread-jeffersons-meringues/
Chapter 6: The Bookseller
Videos
(Episode 108 kind of goes with the next chapter, but can be watched here instead)
Coloring Pages
It’s quite hard to find a great coloring page for this topic without being too violent, so I choose a picture of Molly Pitcher, who I don’t believe is mentioned in the book.
Harder picture of the capture of Fort Ticonderoga
Because of this chapter’s topic, I could not find a lot of projects and hands-on activities to go with it. I did not want to include activities that included children acting out war.
Chapter 7: The Polymath
Videos
Liberty’s Kids Episode 111 (episode 108 might have been watched in Chapter 6, 110 will be scheduled in Chapter 9)
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
What’s the Big Idea, Ben Franklin
How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning
Coloring Pages
Activity pages
Lapbooks
$4.00 lapbook (not the same as the activity pages pack)
Extra Books
The Remarkable Benjamin Franklin
Snacks and Recipes
http://www.benjaminfranklinentertains.com/2018/02/top-ten-franklin-foods.html
Chapter 8: The Plan
Videos
Liberty’s Kids Episode 114 (some places reverse 113 and 114)
A song about the constitution
Video about creating a song to memorize the preamble, with lots of detail
This is America, Charlie Brown: The Birth of the Constitution
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
Crafts
https://www.dltk-kids.com/usa/mdeclaration.htm
Chapter 9: The President
Videos
Pretty much from this point on, all the rest of the Liberty’s Kids Episodes happen in a very short time period and very quickly outpace the book. So, watch the rest, including Episode 110 and Episode 113, which were skipped earlier, and then picking back up with Episode 115 and continuing until episode 140 over the next few weeks.
Dear America: The Winter of Red Snow
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
Variety of options at different levels (scroll down)
Crafts
Activity pages
Snacks and Recipes
Chapter 10: The Astronomer
Videos
A movie I can not find online and have not watched but sounds interesting, at least for adults, is Benjamin Banneker, the Man Who Loved the Stars (1981).
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Snacks and Recipes
Chapter 11: The Diplomat
Videos
Quite a few of the Liberty’s Kids videos tie in here as well, so if you are watching the rest, they do tie in nicely, although at a swift pace.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation
Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Everything
Coloring Pages
Chapter 12: The Duel
Videos
Disney Plus has a “more child-friendly” version of the movie Hamilton.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Aaron and Alexander by Don Brown
Coloring Pages
Crafts
No instructions are included, but this idea looks easy enough.
“Paper Doll” style printables
Hamilton and Burr paper dolls (From the movie, not real life)
Chapter 13: The Silversmith
Videos
A documentary that isn’t too boring for kids (PBS)–There is some talk about war, with pictures of people with guns, talk about the trail of tears, etc., but most of the worst of it are glossed over. It just says things like “thousands of people died.”
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Sequoyah by James Rumford
Coloring Pages
Activity pages
Practice using the Cherokee alphabet.
Snacks and Recipes
Chapter 14: The Socialite
Videos
Mini-Documentary on Dolley saving the portrait
Coloring Pages
Looks like a medium but is actually hard
Looks like hard, but I think it’s actually more medium.
“Paper Doll” style printables
https://marlendy.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/colonial-characters-paper-dolls/
Snacks and Recipes
https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/presidential-desserts-inspired-by-dolley-madison/
Chapter 15: The Flagmaker
Videos
Reenactment of Mary Pickersgill laying out the fabric to create the flag
A little more about the last few chapters and Francis Scott Key
Star-Spangled Banner
Coloring Pages
Mary Pickersgill (on page 16/22) (pages 17-18 also apply)
Crafts
30 Flag crafts to pick and choose from
Snacks and Recipes
A Variety of Flag-related food ideas for kids
Chapter 16: The Educator
Videos
Drive-Thru History (the segment about Webster begins around 18:52)
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
An Inconvenient Alphabet by Beth Anderson
Coloring Pages
Not exactly Webster, but close enough for an easy page
Crafts
Activities
Lots of activities from Sonlight’s Jimmie Quick
Snacks and Recipes
Not exactly a food idea, but you can explore the grocery store and try to find foods for each letter of the alphabet.
Chapter 17: The Potter
Videos
Pictures of some of Dave’s pottery with a short video at the bottom
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
An excellent reading and discussion of the book Dave the Potter, read by the illustrator.
Crafts
The most obvious craft here would be to make your own pots out of clay or play-doh.
Snacks and Recipes
While I don’t think there are many meals attributed to Dave himself, if you have any pottery at home, you can look at and discuss it, or have a meal cooked from clay pots/jugs, enjoy drinks stored in ceramics, or use pottery to eat off of.
Chapter 18: The Ornithologist
Videos
Winged Migration–a full-length movie about birds; keep in mind as a nature show, there are a few scenes in which predators attack birds….as action goes, it’s not exciting, as it’s mostly just watching different birds, but it is beautiful.
Audubon, the movie–I haven’t had a chance to watch this yet….
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Website mentioned in the book with the drawings from James Audubon himself
While not the entire book of Look Up! Bird Watching in Your Own Backyard, there is a video series by the author where she talks about her book, bird watching, and how to draw birds for kids. Here is part 1 in the series.
Coloring Pages
https://www.birdwatching-bliss.com/bird-coloring-pages.html
Crafts
Activity pages
Learning to Identify Birds worksheets (your child will likely need help but can draw and answer the questions orally.
For more advanced artists, how to draw different birds.
Lapbooks
https://www.homeschoolshare.com/backyard_birds_lap_n_note.php
Snacks and Recipes
Chapter 19: The Storyteller
Videos
I would strongly advise against watching the stop-motion video of Mark Twain for kids without first watching the 40-minute to about the 45-minute mark. I don’t think this section belongs in a child’s movie.
However, your child might instead like the mini-series Roughing It. It’s a reenactment of his semi-autobiographical book. It starts out relatively slow, but it goes back in time to when he was young and exploring the west.
Mark Twain and Me is another choice.
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Snacks and Recipes
I had trouble finding one that looked more like a raft, but these look fun, easy, and healthy.
Chapter 20: The Gold Rush
Videos
The Gold Rush with Charlie Chaplin; silent movie 1925
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Paint your own gold, then go panning
Snacks and Recipes
Gold Nugget Candy (Caramel popcorn would produce a similar effect)
Chapter 21: The Doctor
Videos
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?
Coloring Pages
http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/elizabeth-blackwell
http://doonething.com/heroes//colorme/pdf/colorme-blackwell-elizabeth.pdf
Crafts
Snacks and Recipes
A few fun ideas for medical-themed snacks
Chapter 22: The Illustrator
Videos
Randolph Caldecott: The Man Who Could Not Stop Drawing
List of Caldecott Winners
Activity
Hold a Caldecott award ceremony, having your child vote on the best-illustrated book they’ve read this year. This PDF is long but contains many easy ideas and possible worksheets you might like to use.
Snacks And Recipes
I think the popcorn and candy go a little better with a movie award theme, but the star-shaped cheese and crackers look fun. One could also add certain veggies (cucumbers, etc.) that are reasonably easy and deli meats to make it more of a full meal.
Chapter 23: The Conductor
Videos
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Moses by Carole Boston Weatherford
Coloring Pages
http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/harriet-tubman
http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/harriet-tubman-0
Crafts
Activity pages
“Paper Doll” style printables
Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth
Snacks and Recipes
Harriet Tubman Cornbread (from “The Historical Cookbook of the American Negro” by the National Council of Negro Women, compiled in 1958 from older recipes, this one from a recipe called “Aunt Harriot’s Favorite Dish”)
Chapter 25: The Emancipator
Videos
This is America, Charlie Brown: The Smithsonian and the Presidency (covers Washington, Lincoln, and Roosevelt). Look for episode 7.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books
How Kate Warne Saved President Lincoln
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Snacks and Recipes
Link is not working, but these log cabins look easy.
Chapter 26: The Editor
Videos
Who Do We Thank for Thanksgiving
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Scroll Down to Chapter 7, for hat activity
Snacks and Recipes
Any fun Thanksgiving food will do
Chapter 27: The Suffragist
Videos
There is a movie coming out, and you can see clips from it here.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Elizabeth Leads the Way (typo in the book)
Coloring Pages
http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/elizabeth-cady-stanton
Crafts
(Thank you, Hayley!)
Snacks and Recipes
The suffrage movement started with a tea party, so have a tea party of your own, and talk about issues you’d like to see changed (either in your home, your neighborhood, or even changes your child would like to see in the world)
Chapter 28: The Railroad
Videos
I don’t know many movies about the Transcontinental Railroad that are child-friendly; however, there is a Disney movie (which I have not yet watched) called John Henry about some of the railroad builders. I can not currently find a free version to watch, but it is available on Amazon to purchase.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
http://www.usa-printables.com/Events/19th_century/1800-events-027.htm
Crafts
Have a railroad building contest. Divide into two teams. If your child is an only, you will be on one team and them on the other. Don’t worry about them being equal. Starting on opposite sides of the room and decide a middle point. Glue popsicle sticks in a railroad shape on pieces of construction paper and lay them out on the floor. See who can reach the middle first.
Snacks and Recipes
Variety of train-themed snacks.
Chapter 29: The Ensemble
Videos
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Crafts
Even though the Fisk Jubilee singers were singers and only one musician, it’s hard to come up with crafts just for singing. But, music is music, so here is a list of musical instruments your child can make (and play!)
Snacks and Recipes
Chapter 30: The Cordwainer
Videos
Video on how shoes are made with a regular last
A modern shoe-making process using a modern, lasting machine. (I wanted a video of one similar to the one in the book but couldn’t find one).
Crafts
Snacks and Recipes
Sandals (the third one down looks the easiest)
