Geography Free Printable

Early this year before the virus hit, I was working on a special geography game/printable.  The Olympics were coming up, so there was no better time than to make a game with the names of countries, their capitals, flags and maps of where they are located! 

Although the Olympics are being postponed until next July, I thought I would still release my special printable. There will sadly be much more indoor time, so this fun game can be the avenue for much learning, discussion and fun.  The top 40 medal winning Summer Olympics nations are included, along with answer keys.

You can use it as a teaching tool, a matching game or both!  Adapt it to your child's age, ability and interest.  Enjoy it, as my gift.  I hope your kids enjoy it.  Feel free to share this with anyone who could use it- including all of the new homeschoolers there will be this year!

Here are just 3 of the 40 countries included with country name, capital city, flag and map.

Answer keys

Click on this link to download it. 

Until next time!
God bless.


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Shark Bingo- Free Printable!!!

Have you and your kids been enjoying Shark Week and SharkFest?  We sure have.

It has taken me countless hours, but it is finally done- Shark Bingo- and we are planning on playing it this weekend to mark the end of the 30th annual Shark Week.

There are hundreds of species of shark, but I selected 25 for the bingo cards.  I made calling cards for each one, describing the species and giving interesting facts.  If you wanted to just call out the name, you could do that, too.  My kiddos are now much older, so I included the various facts in the calling cards for them.  :-)

I hope you enjoy it!

Here is the link to get it for yourself.  :-)

Here is a link to all of my free printables!!!





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Revolutionary War Films

After my post on World War II films, people started asking me about films on the Revolutionary War.  Here are my recommendations.

Again, they are in no particular order.

[affiliate links included]

1) John Adams (2008)

This miniseries was extraordinary-- factual, real, gritty and emotional.  The scenes in the Continental Congress should be a must see for any student of American history.  (I would just suggest caution for younger viewers for 3 scenes in particular-- one when a man is being tarred (nudity), one when John and Abigail are united after much time apart and another when their daughter is undergoing a lumpectomy without anesthesia)

2) Independence (1976)

This wonderful film, available on YouTube for free, was shown to visitors to Independence National Historic Park for decades.  It is about an half-hour long, which is perfect for the attention span of students.  It has an impressive star-studded cast and was made for the Bicentennial.  Very well done and shot on location in Philadelphia.  I showed it to my students for many years.

3) April Morning (1988)

This film was taken from the Howard Fast novel of the same name.  The action takes place on April 18-19, 1775 in Lexington, Massachusetts; the afternoon before the battle of Lexington through the evening of the day of battle.  The tension builds as the British army marches into view.  The viewer sees a boy become a man as he takes his place among the men on Lexington green and fights throughout the fateful day.  The arguments between the men as to why they should, or should not, stand up to the British army explain well the conflict of principles being discussed in 1775.  Excellent film with Tommy Lee Jones and Chad Lowe.

4) Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)

Based on the novel by Walter D. Edmonds.  This visually appealing film is set in the Mohawk Valley of upstate New York.  There, the frontier settlers are not facing a red-coated enemy but rather the dark and sinister forces of the Tories and Indians bent on destruction of the settlers and their settlements.  The feel for the time and place are outstanding.  It is also great entertainment.  The film is excellent and can be watched time and time again.  If you like the film you’ll love the book.

5) Johnny Tremain (1957)

This is a Disney film taken from the Esther Forbes novel of the same name.  While perhaps considered a film for young adults in 1957 it is far better historically than one would expect.  The action takes place in and around Boston before the war and ends after Lexington-Concord.  Interspersed in the film are various scenes where knowledgeable characters explain what is going on politically so the viewer understands the implications he is witnessing.  In particular one should pay attention to the philosophical explanations made by the James Otis character.  He spells out the repercussions of the revolution for 1775 and the impact of the revolution for future generations.  This is a fine film and the book is even better.

6) The Winter Patriots (2015)

This is Mount Vernon's feature presentation. Also available on YouTube.  Facing one of the darkest moments of the American Revolution, learn how Gen. George Washington and his brave Continental army fought and defeated the British and Hessians at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton in 1776 and 1777. This cutting edge presentation combines live action footage with animated map displays that show how Washington's bold advances led to victory.

7) The Crossing (2003)- (at the time of writing this post, it is available for only $6.39!)

The Crossing is a stirring dramatization of General George Washington's surprise attack on the British Army's German mercenaries and the Battle of Trenton. Based on the book by Howard Fast, The Crossing brings to life Washington's historic passage across the Delaware on Christmas night, 1776 and the lopsided fight that followed.  Stars Jeff Daniels.  Very well done.

8) George Washington- the miniseries (1984)

This riveting eight-hour miniseries stars Barry Bostwick as George Washington – the initially reluctant first American President who remains a symbol of diplomacy and strength to this day. Bostwick is accompanied by screen legend Patty Duke who plays the inimitable Martha Washington. 

Chronicling Washington’s life from age 11 to age 51, this unparalleled biopic of the America hero is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography by James Thomas Flexner.

Nominated for six Primetime Emmys, the series explores key moments in Washington's life and career, including his involvement in the French and Indian War, the coming and commencement of the Revolutionary War, and the victory of the Independence from England.

9) Benedict Arnold- A Question of Honor (2002)

The most sullied figure of the American Revolution receives partial redemption in Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor. Produced for the A&E network, this factual drama reveals the lesser-known circumstances of Arnold's dishonor, beginning in 1777 and chronicling his fall from greatness. The conquering hero of Saratoga and other victories of the Revolution finds himself in an impossible predicament, his allegiance torn between his British loyalist wife (Jane Brennan) and his paternally devoted commander, George Washington (Kelsey Grammer), as his Colonial detractors cast him into a tragic no-win scenario. Authentically detailed and blessed by playwright William Mastrosimone's poetic period dialogue, Benedict Arnold successfully explores the personal and political facets of a great soldier's downfall. Aidan Quinn's expressive melancholy perfectly suits his title role, and Grammer transcends Frasier, lending appropriate gravitas--and some physical resemblance--to his portrayal of America's future president. Like A&E's earlier film The Crossing, this is compelling historical drama, entertaining, intelligent, and emotionally complex.

10) Liberty- Heroes of the American Revolution- (1997) (at the time of this post, available for only $9.29)

This collection puts a human face on the legendary men who forged American independence; despite their accomplishments, they were distinctly fallible. Henry Rollins takes preconceived notions about these titans even further, turning them on their ear in "10 Things You Don't Know About", "The Founding Fathers" and "Benjamin Franklin". From bitter rivalries and spy games to bankrupt presidents, these are the facts you wished you'd learned in school. Learn intriguing and little-known facts about Ben Franklin, including the eccentricities that helped him save the American Revolution. And finally, in "Paul Revere: 'The Midnight Rider'", explore the life of one of the most famous revolutionaries to reveal that he was also a skilled artisan, an ambitious businessman, a dentist, and a political cartoonist. 

11) All for Liberty (2009)

It is 1775. Henry Felder, a Swiss-German colonist, lives with his family in the backcountry of the British colony of South Carolina. However, he and his community are suffering under British injustice. After many years of struggling with corrupt British rulers, Felder is urged by the new patriot governor to write Articles of Separation from the English King. Felder's old Indian fighting comrade, Bill Jenkins forms a Tory militia to assist the Crown as the fight heats up. Felder raises his own militia, including a woman tavern owner who gathers a patriot spy ring. In the ensuing struggles, Felder and his family discover the cost of freedom.

This film was independently produced to very high standards.  It is one of the few films to depict the nature of the war in the South being Tory vs. Whig, neighbor against neighbor.  Large battles were rare, small skirmishes and ambushes were very common.  The film is visually very appealing and beautifully filmed.  The conflicts and tough decisions citizens had to make are made clear.  The action scenes are realistic and not obsessively violent.  The feel of the 1770’s is very successfully depicted.  Recommended. We enjoyed it.

12) The Scarlett Coat (1955)

It takes a spy to catch a spy in this rousing Revolutionary War adventure directed by John Sturges and starring Cornel Wilde, Michael Wilding, Anne Francis and George Sanders. When top-secret military information is recovered from the body of a spy, American counter-intelligence officer Major John Bolton (Wilde) realizes there’s a highly placed turncoat in the ranks. Posing as a deserter, Bolton plays a dangerous game as he pretends to work for the British while attempting to ferret out the traitor’s name. Shot by Academy Award winning cinematographer Paul C. Vogel (Battleground, 1949) on locations in Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, New York, The Scarlet Coat is M-G-M at its swashbuckling best, an action-packed tale of duty, betrayal and honor.

13) The Patriot (2000)

A reluctant South Carolina farmer (Mel Gibson) is forced to fight the British in this epic adventure of the American Revolution. Directed by Roland Emmerich (Independence Day). Screenplay by Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan).

Disclaimer- this film is rated R due to realistic war violence.  I showed this to my college classes, not my younger students. It is based on a true-story (although Mel Gibson's character was in fact 3 people, not one).  It is very powerful, emotional and raw, but well done.  I would only recommend for older students or adults.

14) The Howards of Virginia (1940)

Cary Grant, Honorary Academy Award(r) winner (1970), stars in The Howards of Virginia, a stirring romantic adventure set during the turbulent years of Colonial and Revolutionary America. Beautiful young Virginian Jane (Martha Scott) steps down from her proper aristocratic upbringing when she marries down-to-earth surveyor Matt Howard (Grant). Deeply in love, they move to the backwoods and begin to raise their family. Major differences emerge, however, when the conservative Jane and her Tory father rebel against Matt's staunch democratic ideals. Eventually, Matt joins the Colonial forces in the fight for freedom against England, and Jane and Matt are forced to choose between their love for each other and their political beliefs. Exciting and dramatic, The Howards of Virginia is a tumultuous tale of love and adventure.

15) The Rebels (1979)

After the Battle of Lexington kicks off the Revolutionary War, the Americans are rallying to fight the British. American soldier Philip Kent (Andrew Stevens) is set to fight in the Battle of Bunker Hill while his wife, Anne (Kim Cattrall), is at home looking after their child. While Kent is engaged in combat alongside Gen. George Washington, his friend Judson Fletcher (Don Johnson) becomes a member of the newly formed Second Continental Congress.

Hope you and your family enjoy these films as you all learn more about the beginnings of our great nation!

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Classic World War II films

When I used to teach junior and senior high American history, as well as at the collegiate level, I used and/or recommended movies as a learning tool.  They were also good for bringing to "life" what we were studying in a textbook, as well as beginning meaningful discussion about what we had learned.

Recently, some friends asked for my opinion regarding films about World War II, so I began to compile a list.

Because many of these films were made in the first half of the 20th century, they are not gory or contain images that would be disturbing to most viewers.  The standards of filmmaking were very different then.  The points are made without the violence and gore.  That being said, war is hell and war is bloody and sad and traumatic, but that could be another discussion point-- that the main point(s) portrayed are being done with more emotion than with depictions of violence.  These films are still powerful and valuable educational tools.

In this post, I will be listing World War II films that I either used in the classroom or recommended my students watch on their own time.  In future posts, I will list films from other eras of American history.

I think they would be a good asset to your homeschool or for educational family viewing.

They are in no particular order!

[affiliate links included]

1) Air Force (1943)

On December 6, 1941 nine B-17 bomber set off on a flight from San Francisco to Hawaii. One of the bombers, the Mary Ann, is commanded by 'Irish' Quincannon. The men are all highly professional with the exception of aerial gunner Joe Winocki, a bitter man who has every intention of leaving the army air corps. They arrive at Hickam Field on the morning of December 7, just as the Japanese are attacking Pearl Harbor and other military facilities. All of the men prepare to face the enemy, including Winocki whose attitude changes quickly. The bomber and its crew will participate in many missions but not all will survive. 

2) Bataan (1943)

Japan has just invaded the Phillipines and the US Army attempts a desperate defence. Thirteen men are chosen to blow up a bridge on the Bataan peninsula and keep the Japanese from rebuilding it.

3) Back to Bataan (1945)

In 1942, after the fall of the Philippines to the Japanese, U.S. Army Col. Joseph Madden stays behind to organize the local resistance against the Japanese invaders.


4) Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)

A dramatization of the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima.  Marine sergeant John Stryker seems a martinet and a bully as he trains young Marines for combat in the Pacific war. In the end, as survival in the bloody battle of Iwo Jima depends on the lessons Stryker has drilled into them, his troops discover why he was so hard on them.

5) They were Expendable (1945)

A dramatized account of the role of the American PT Boats in the defense of the Philippines in World War II.  Shortly after Pearl Harbor, a squadron of PT-boat crews in the Philipines must battle the Navy brass between skirmishes with the Japanese.

6) Halls of Montezuma (1951)

The Marines attack a strongly held enemy island in the Pacific. We follow them from the beach to a Japanese rocket site through enemy infested jungle as their ex-school teacher leader is transformed into a battle veteran and his squad becomes a tight fighting unit.

7) Wake Island (1942)

December, 1941. With no hope of relief or re-supply, a small band of United States Marines try to keep the Japanese Navy from capturing their island base.

8) Objective, Burma!  (1945)

A platoon of special ops are tasked to parachute into the remote Burmese jungle and destroy a strategic Japanese radar station, but getting out isn't as easy.

9) Destination Tokyo (1943)

In order to provide information for the first air raid over Tokyo, a U.S. submarine sneaks into Tokyo Bay and places a spy team ashore.

10) The Longest Day (1962)

The events of D-Day, told on a grand scale from both the Allied and German points of view with an all-star cast.

11) Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

After settling his differences with a Japanese PoW camp commander, a British colonel co-operates to oversee his men's construction of a railway bridge for their captors - while oblivious to a plan by the Allies to destroy it.

12) Stalag 17 (1953) 

When two escaping American World War II prisoners are killed, the German POW camp barracks black marketeer, J.J. Sefton, is suspected of being an informer.

13) The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)

Harrowing story of a young Jewish girl who, with her family and their friends, is forced into hiding in an attic in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam.

14) The Hiding Place (1975)

Corrie and Betsie ten Boom are middle-aged sisters working in their father's watchmaker shop in pre-WWII Holland. Their uneventful lives are disrupted with the coming of the Nazis.

15) Battle of the Bulge (1965)

An all-star cast led by Henry Fonda is featured in the epic dramatization of one of the most important battles of World War II.

16) Thirty Seconds over Tokyo (1944)

Oscar-winning fact-based World War II picture about General Jimmy Doolittle's efforts to train American troops for the first airborne attacks on Japan.

17) The Fighting Sullivans (1944)

They were known as the Fighting Sullivans, and were by far America s most famous sailors. The destruction of their ship in 1942, however, turned this story of national heroism to one of deep tragedy.

18) Midway (1976)

This gripping film interweaves the stories of the soldiers who fought the Battle of Midway, which took place six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor and was a turning point for the U.S.

19) Tora Tora Tora (1970)

Events from the American and Japanese perspectives leading up to and including the Japanese aerial attack on the U.S. Naval base in pearl harbor on December 7, 1941.

20) In Harm's Way (1965)

In Harm's Way, based on James Bassett's novel Harm's Way, has enough plot in it for four movies or a good miniseries (when it was shown on network television in prime time, it was broken into two very full nights). On the morning of December 7, 1941, a heavy cruiser, commanded by Captain Rockwell Torrey (John Wayne), and the destroyer Cassidy, under acting commander Lieutenant (jg) William McConnell (Thomas Tryon), are two of a handful of ships that escape the destruction of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

21) To Hell and Back (1955)

The true WWII story of Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in U.S. history. Based on the autobiography of Audie Murphy who stars as himself in the film.

22) Twelve O'Clock High (1949)

A hard-as-nails general takes over a bomber unit suffering from low morale and whips them into fighting shape.

23) The Fighting Seabees (1944) 

Construction workers in World War II in the Pacific are needed to build military sites, but the work is dangerous and they doubt the ability of the Navy to protect them.

24) Red Ball Express (1952)

Jeff Chandler, Alex Nicol and Charles Drake portray one of the untold heroic stories of World War II in Red Ball Express. During the height of the war, Patton’s Third Army is in desperate need of supplies after a successful invasion of Paris. An elite military truck force is established to deliver goods to the soldiers. Members of this platoon must not only withstand minefields and Nazi resistance, they must also learn to overcome their personal and racial prejudices towards one another. Red Ball Express is a gripping, powerful action thriller based on true events.

25) Three Came Home (1950)

This powerful drama is the true story of American author Agnes Newton Keith's ordeal as a prisoner of the Japanese during World War Two. Claudette Colbert stars as Mrs. Keith, living on the island of Sandakan in the Borneo region, with her British husband and young son, when the Japanese invade.

26) Never So Few  (1959)

Oscar-winner Frank Sinatra and Oscar-nominee Steve McQueen star as members of a badly outnumbered American battalion who overcome great odds to defeat the Japanese in Burma during WWII.

27) Merrill's Marauders (1962)

During WW2, a 3000-strong American unit, known as Merrill's Marauders, battles the Japanese forces in Burma.

28) Hell is for Heroes (1962)

It's autumn 1944, and Nazi forces along the Siegfried Line have the numbers, the fortifications and the firepower to break through. And a handful of GIs have little more than a dogged determination and the ingenuity to fool the Germans into thinking they represent a great Allied Task Force. But can they make the ruse last until reinforcements finally arrive?

29) PT 109 (1963)

During WW2, Lieut. John F. Kennedy takes command of PT 109 to fight the Japanese in the Solomon Islands.

30) The Great Escape (1963)

Allied prisoners of war plan for several hundred of their number to escape from a German camp during World War II.

If there are ones that I forgot, please share in the comments!!!!

n all-star cast led by Hen

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