A global studies and world literature unit on Transylvania and Dracula for homeschool, worldschool or just for fun.
I'll be the first to admit, this week might not be for everyone; Dracula called to us because we were actually visiting Transylvania. Also, Dracula is one of the most famous pieces of English literature ever written, so even though Bram Stoker never actually set foot in Romania, it still carries some cultural weight. The Vlad the Impaler part also might not suit everyone but we keep history pretty real over here so I felt like we could handle it. Proceed with your best judgement.
Printables
All of this week's information in an easy-to-read printable.
Books
One from each category plus an assortment of picture books is usually just perfect.
Not all book series are as good as the next. Get the scoop on some of our favorites here.
Library Haul
Not all of these books will get read. Most library systems allow you to browse online and put books on hold. They'll round them up for you and deliver them to your local branch. It's a big time saver!
Base Non-Fiction Books:
Read every word or simply flip through and reach what catches your eye.
Top Pick:
From Vlad the Impaler to Dracula the Vampire Obviously this book is going to be a little gruesome so proceed with caution. We were headed to Vlad's hometown so it felt pretty relevant for us.
Other Ideas:
What is the Story of Dracula? (Who HQ book) Brams Stoker never actually set foot in Romania and obviously Dracula isn't a real person. None of that stopped us form focusing on the famous vampire and his story before our trip. We enjoyed learning all about Dracula and making copious amounts of vampire references and jokes on our trip.
Romania (Countries We Come From) These books are best to flip though to just get a general sense of a place.
Base Fiction Chapter Book:
Some of these books are part of a series but all of them work as standalone books.
Dracula (Eyewitness Classics) This is the version we opted to read instead of the Classic Starts. It's abridged, illustrated and had extra information in the margins.
Dracula (Classic Starts) If you can't find the above one, this could be an option.
Fangs for Having Us (Ms. Frogbottom's Field Trips #3) We didn't actually end up having time to read this one so I can't personally vouch for it. Its on-topic though, so I wanted to include it.
Other Notable Books
Have more time? Try these too.
Can You Survive Dracula? (You Choose Book) This You Choose book read more like a novel than others in the series but because it's based on an actual novel, I didn't mind having fewer personal choices to make. We read this during our trip to Transylvania and tried our best to make our actions match what we remembered from the actual book.
Castle Dracula (Castles, Palaces and Tombs Book) The link between the literary Dracula, the historic figure Vald Tepes and this castle are tenuous at best. Still, this book was fun to flip through, especially since we were planning a trip to this actual castle.
Picture Books
Library inventories vary so much with picture books. Rather than wasting time tracking down specific ones, I like to do keyword searches and just grab what's available.
Search these keywords: Transylvania, Romania, Dracula, Vampires, Vlad the Impaler, Carpathians
We liked these books:
Let's Visit Transylvania! (Bella and Harry by Lisa Manzione) I love these books. Adorable and inquisitive dogs Bella and Harry visit Transylvania with their family. They explore the key sites and learn all about them in these beautifully illustrated books.
Things to Listen to/Watch*
*Always vet material before watching it with your kids, especially if they are sensitive viewers. I try to note any potential issues but everyone has different parenting thresholds of what they consider appropriate.
What I Read/Watched this Week
Sometimes I read a book, watch a documentary or watch a non-kids movie to go along with the week.
Dracula (By Bram Stoker) Obviously! It's one of the most famous novels in English literature so even if Victorian gothic novels aren't your thing, it might be worth reading anyway.
Interactive Learning: Crafts, Food, Activities
Seek out some Eastern European food near you or make your own. Below is a picture of the bean in a bread bowl soup we had several times on our trip. Here's some more Romanian recipes.
As always, the week's theme can be incorporated into any usual activities too. Legos, Playdough, coloring, etc.
Pinterest has tons of Dracula craft ideas.
End of Week Movie Night Ideas
Hotel Transylvania (2012, PG) Monster hotel proprietor and overprotective dad (Dracula) must learn to accept that his little girl is growing up. Monster jokes abound and nothing is all that scary. Still, use your best judgment if you have a sensitive kid.
Dracula (1931, Not Rated) We didn't watch this partly because we ran out of time and partly because I couldn't find it on any streaming service and didn't want to shell out money for an movie that frankly, no one would probably be all that into. I can't speak to its appropriateness level but my guess is that most modern kids probably wouldn't be too freaked out by effects from 1931. Still, use best judgment.
Segue Ideas... Balkans Week, Victorian Era Week.
Wrap Up
This Dracula and Transylvania homeschool or worldschool unit, brief though it was, was a lot of fun. One of my girls loves all things scary and the other decidedly, does not. I aimed to present one of the most famous horror stories of all time through a historical literature lens and she never got freaked out. All of this material would work great for a Dracula, Transylvania or Romania homeschool unit or, in our case, just some fun, extra learning. Here's a few picture from our trip! Want more? Check out my Insta at @oneplaneortwo.
P.S. If anyone wants help planning a trip to Romania I would love to help. This trip was amazing and Romania quickly moved very high on my list of recommended places to visit.
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