Archimedes lesson

Now tell me the truth, who as soon as I said Archimedes lesson thought of the little owl from Sword in the Stone (affiliate link)?

Or was that just me?  In reality, the owl from the Sword in the Stone could make a fun homeschool history lesson as you send your kids off to find out more about the real person…..  But, that’s not this lesson.  This lesson is about ancient history, and the scientific principles Archimedes devised.

(as you can tell there are affiliate links in here)

But really, let’s talk about this Archimedes lesson

For history last week in Mystery of History 1, one of our lessons was Archimedes and his many discoveries and how smart he was in matters of science.  Not so much, according to story, in his real life.  He may have been the founder of the absent-minded professor archetype.

But, back to my point.  Archimedes discovered the concept of mass and density, one day while in his bathtub.  Now, I suppose I could have done this lesson with a bathtub, but that would get into modesty issues and all that, so instead we used some metal toys.

We dropped them in and discovered, shocker of all shockers the water level did rise just like it did for Archimedes.  Now the water level also fell at an astonishing rate because of the imperfect seal of our sink.  I should have done this in a pot or something.

 

I also should have chosen things more dramatic than Batman, Martian Manhunter, and a matchbox car.  They were all metal and seemed hefty enough.

 

And, in case you were wondering, the little army men are still wildly popular.  That is now the preferred way of listening to history while enacting their Civil War battles with the cannons over and over and over again.  But, Lego history is still a favorite in our house, and my preferred method because I don’t have to spend HOURS, HOURS I say cutting them out.

 

I have requests for more guys.  They don’t realize how long it takes to cut out all of those little guys.  Really it takes FOREVER……., But they make great reenactments.  Seriously.

 

 

Want some more in-depth ideas on Greeks or Archimedes?

• For density, here’s another great early learner lesson: Will a pumpkin float?
• For Greeks try out: Greek columns
• Or another famous (almost) Greek: Alexander the Great

Or check out the entirety of Ancient History here at Adventures in Mommydom.