A Turkey global studies unit for homeschool, worldschool or just for fun.
We traveled to Turkey so of course we had to do a unit on Turkey before we left! We learned about some of the history, the people, the food and more! During our trip we explored mosques and old markets in Istanbul, fairy chimneys in Cappadocia and even rode in a hot air balloon!
Printables
All of this week's information in an easy-to-read printable.
On the Dining Room Wall
This map of Turkey, images from an old daily calendar.
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.
I had a hard time finding a good book this week so I ended up just getting a few and picking and choosing pages from several of them.
Base Fiction Chapter Book:
Some of these books are part of a series but all of them work as standalone books.
Intrigue in Istanbul (Agnes Kelly Mystery #1) We didn't read this one but it might be a better option than the Leyla book I've listed below.
Leyla: The Black Tulip (Girls of Many Lands) I'm not going to lie, this book took us a while to really get into. We might have given up on it had we not been about to actually go to Istanbul. In the end, we did like the story and if you happen to be planning a trip to Istanbul and the Topkapi Palace, it is definitely worth the read. On the other hand, if you're not, eh, it's probably skippable.
Uncovered in Istanbul (Anatolia Steppe Mystery #2) This is another one we didn't read but I thought I'd list as an option.
Other Notable Books
Have more time? Try these too.
Folktales from Turkey (by Serpil Ural)
A Treasury of Turkish Folktales for Children (by Barbara K. Walker)
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: Turkey, Türkiye, Istanbul, Ottoman Empire, Constantinople, Cappadocia, Bosphorus
We liked these books:
Song of the Old City (by Anna Pellicioli)
Let's Visit Istanbul! (Bella & Harry series)
Zeynep: The Seagull of Galata Tower (by Julia Townsend)
The Seven Fairy Mountains of Cappadocia (by Linda Socha Jaworski)
The Hungry Coat (by Demi)
Things to Listen to/Watch*
We put this relaxing video of Cappadocia hot air balloons on in the background this week
*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.
Istanbul: Memories and the City (By Orhan Pamuk)
My Name is Red (By Orhan Pamuk)
Interactive Learning: Crafts, Food, Activities
Go out to eat at a Turkish restaurant or make your own Turkish food at home. Here's a picture of a Turkish breakfast we had in Istanbul.
Visit some tulips or plant your own.
Create any of Istanbul's landmarks or Cappadocia's fairy chimneys or hot air balloons out of Legos, Playdough or clay.
End of Week Movie Night Ideas
I really struggled to come up with any ideas for movie night but I did find a few episodes of kid's shows that work great!
Let's Go Luna!: Season 1, Episode 22: The Story of Smoothie/Andy the Giant This is available on PBS Kids for free. This two segments take place in Istanbul. The first takes place at Topkapi Palace and the second at Hagia Sofia.
Let's Go Luna!: Season 1, Episode 21: A Prickly Pair/Turkish Delight This is available on PBS Kids for free. These two segments take place in Istanbul. The first helps two brothers learn to get along just like the different parts of Istanbul itself can work as one. The second segment showcases Turkish cuisine.
Super Wings: Season 3, Episode 15: Underground City The crew heads to Cappadocia to help a girl track down her missing hamster in the underground city.
Segue Ideas... Silk Road Week, Arabian Peninsula Week
Wrap Up
All of this material would work great for a global studies Turkey homeschool unit or, in our case, just some fun, extra learning. After we finished our book I made the girls tulip pancakes for breakfast.
Final Moment
Here's a few pictures from our trip to Turkey. The first is the girls along the Bosphorus and the second is of from our hotel in Cappadocia.
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