Dear homeschool friend,

Thank you for purchasing this copy of History Mysteries: Curses, mummies, ghost ships, spies, disappearances and other awesome cases to study as a family.

This product is a purchase from Kara S. Anderson/karasanderson.com and is owned by same. You are welcome to create copies for use in your family, but this product may not be used for classes or in group settings without permission. Please contact Kara at for permission to use this product as part of a class or amongst multiple homeschooling families.

Please do not share this copy with friends, and instead, direct them to my blog, karasanderson.com, where they can purchase their own copy.

Sharing this document without permission is a violation of copyright.

All rights reserved. May 2016.

Thank you!!

History Mysteries Page 1 A note from Kara …

Why was the history we learned so boring?

When I was in school, I was a “good student.” I got good grades, and did well on tests.

I was a good temporary rememberer – I could memorize dates and names and facts until I didn’t need them anymore.

And so, I did OK with history.

But I didn’t love it.

I didn’t enjoy it, and when I heard that you could major in history or any aspect thereof in college, I thought that was nuts unless you picked archeology. I thought archeology seemed cool because of two reasons:

1. Indiana Jones 2. King Tut

History Mysteries Page 2 King Tut is the one historical thing that sticks out in my mind from grade school, and I’ll tell you why – there was a curse!

I mean, mummies were interesting in their own right, but my textbook skipped over canopic jars and gilded caskets in a page. I must have grabbed a book from the library (I was known to do that) and learned about “Tut’s curse” – people dying after viewing the tomb of a pharaoh!

Oooh. Now that was enough to grab my interest.

And so this year, we have taken sort of a creative approach to history in our home. It was an accident. But it has been awesome.

And I think I know why – I have been really excited about history in the past couple of years myself. I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction and non-fiction, and listening to podcasts that get me excited about the stuff I never heard about when I was busy memorizing dates and trying to recall which wars were which.

I’ve been so excited that it’s been contagious in our home!

So I’ve decided to share with you some of our favorite “historical mysteries” from this year, and the resources we have used to explore them.

My hope is that it will make history fun for all of you, and that your kids will learn early in life that history is really pretty cool and interesting.

Warmly, Kara

About the author … Kara S. Anderson is a writer and homeschool mom and writer. She loves nothing more than a good mystery and don’t tell, but she’s kind of turning into a history nerd.

History Mysteries Page 3 How this book is organized

I have included nine “historical mysteries” for you and your kids to dive into together.

Some are truly unsolved mysteries, like a ghost ship found

With each mystery, I Include books to read, and other “research materials.”

Sometimes, I include data for mom and dad to peruse – maybe something not quite universally age-appropriate, or something that might seem daunting to your littles, like a 400-page book. But YOU can read it and share interesting tidbits during a conversation.

(Those longer “Mom and Dad books” are one reason I recommend taking a little longer with these mysteries!)

I’ve also included some ideas for activities and things to do together.

Now here’s the thing – I am a big believer that homeschooling should not be a stressful endeavor, so I’ve added mostly simple things.

The whole idea here is to bring JOY and INTRIGUE and FUN to history, so don’t do something that will make you feel like you want to throw a half-mummi

Next, I’ve included some discussion questions, but my bet is you’ll @ind you have LOTS to talk about – my questions are just to get you started.

And @inally, I’ve added ideas for further related study if this topic really grabs you or your kids.

How to use this book

In our home, we have spent the whole school year studying these mysteries. A whole year! We have sprinkled them in here and there, about one a month, with no rush and no real plan to finish them by a certain time.

History Mysteries Page 4 So add them in as you see fit. Get intensive about it, and really dive in, or just add them in when you feel like it.

How we studied

In our homeschool, we would often listen to a podcast or watch a video first thing in the morning. I would introduce books during our morning time study. I strewed a lot of materials, and we would listen to audiobooks in the car and watch longer documentaries at night or on weekends as a family.

My kids definitely saw me reading about these subjects and we would have a lots of informal discussions.

But that’s just my approach. Do what feels right for your crew!

Is this book for a certain grade or age-range?

My kids were 8 and 11 when we started these history mysteries, and I would classify my kids as “somewhat sensitive.” So I would say 8 and up in generally a good starting point, but you know your family best.

You might also pick some of the mysteries that feel like a good fit now, and save the rest for later. Some are slightly more gruesome or scary – one involves a corpse! Many are tamer.

I would suggest you read through these materials, and start with a mystery that feels right for your kids. Preview the materials, and then go from there!

Because history, it turns out, is kind of awesome.

OK, are you ready to jump in? Let’s go have some fun!

History Mysteries Page 5 Mysteries Index

7-8 King Tut’s Curse 9-10 Mary Celeste, Ghost Ship 11-12 Alcatraz, and the Guys Who Got Away? 13-14 Operation Mincemeat 15-16 The Curse of the Hope Diamond 17-18 The Disappearance at Roanoke 19-20 Who Killed John F. Kennedy 21-22 The Salem Witch Trials 23-24 Amelia Earhart - Where Did She Go?

History Mysteries Page 6 Mystery: King Tut’s Curse Background information:

King Tutankhamun was an Egyptian pharaoh who ruled during the 18th Dynasty. He is known as “King Tut” and “The Boy King,” because he began his rule at age 9 and is thought to have been just 19 years old when he died.

In 1922, Howard Carter, an English archeologist and Egyptologist discovered Tut’s tomb, and the discovery quickly became big news around the world because the tomb was so complete.

But newspapers also reported that there was a curse associated with the opening of the tomb, and that anyone who was there would die for disturbing the resting place of King Tut. And in fact, some members of Carter’s team and people and animals associated with them did die, including a lord, a prince, a bird, and even a pet dog.

But was there really a curse?

Research Materials:

Books • Who was King Tut by Roberta Edwards • Tut’s Mummy: Lost and Found by Judy Donnelly • The Curse of King Tut’s Tomb by Michael Burgan • You Wouldn’t Want to be Cursed by King Tut! By Jacqueline Morley • The Curse of King Tut’s Tomb and Other Ancient Discoveries by Anita Ganeri and David West • The Curse of King Tut’s Mummy by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

Podcasts

• The Cursed Tomb of King Tut From Stuff You Missed in History Class • Was there a Curse on King Tut’s Tomb? from Stuff You Should Know

Activities • Watch the interactive Mysteries and King Tut from National Geographic • Explore King Tutankhamun videos, articles and more at the History Channel website

History Mysteries Page 7 Extra Data (for moms and dads) • The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson

Related Reads • Egyptology: Search for the Tomb of Osiris by Emily Sands • The Egyptology Handbook by Emily Sands • Everything Ancient Egypt by Crispin Boyer • Hieroglyphs by Joyce Milton • Mummies and Pyramids by Mary Pope Osborne • Pocket Genius: Ancient Egypt DK • Ancient Egypt (Ken Jennings Junior Genius Guides) • Where are the Great Pyramids? by Dorothy Hoobler

Discussion questions 1. Do you think there was really a curse? 2. Why do you think so many people believed there might be a curse? 3. What do you think it would have been like to be a king at just 9 years old? 4. Would you want to discover an ancient tomb? 5. There is a lot of mystery surrounding King Tut’s death. What do you think actually happened to King Tut?

History Mysteries Page 8 Mystery: Mary Celeste, Ghost Ship

Background information: The Mary Celeste was an American brigantine (or a ship with two masts) that was found floating in the Atlantic Ocean on Dec. 4, 1872.

She was discovered by the crew of a Canadian brigantine called the Dei Gratia. No one was on board, and there was no clear indication of why the ship had been abandoned. There was plenty of food and water, and all the crew and passengers’ personal items were still there.

The last entry from the captain’s log was 9 days before the discovery, and no problems were noted.

But a small lifeboat was missing, and no one who had been on the Mary Celeste was ever seen or heard from again.

So what happened to the crew and passengers of the Mary Celeste?

Research Materials:

Books • The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery from History by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple • Ghost Ships by Dr. Angus Konstam

Podcasts • The Cursed Mary Celeste from Stuff You Missed in History Class

Activities • Read Abandoned Ship: The Mary Celeste from Smithsonian Magazine • Watch The True Story of the Mary Celeste from the Smithsonian Channel • Watch What Happened to the Mary Celeste? from the History Channel • Watch Sea Hunters, Season 1, Episode 8 • Explore NUMA’s discovery of the Mary Celeste • Take this quiz

Extra Data (for moms and dads)

History Mysteries Page 9 • Ghost Ship by Brian Hicks • Ghost Ship (an article from Slate)

Related Reads • The Atlas of Ship Wrecks & Treasure by Nigel Pickford • Eyewitness: Shipwreck by Richard Platt • Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe • A little about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Marie” Celeste story

Discussion questions 1. What do you think happened to the Mary Celeste? 2. Do you think there was any “foul play” involved in the disappearance of the crew? 3. Why would the crew have willingly left the ship? 4. Do you think anyone on the Mary Celeste might have survived? 5. Do you think the Mary Celeste was really a “cursed” ship?

History Mysteries Page 10 Mystery: Alcatraz and the guys who got away?

Background information: Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was a maximum-security prison located on Alcatraz Island between 1933 and 1963.

It was constructed 1.25 miles off the coast of San Francisco, and was built to house the toughest and scariest bad guys. The idea was that no one could escape from Alcatraz, and if they tried they would drown in the cold waters, or crash into the rocky coast.

Criminals like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly served time on “The Rock,” (a nickname for Alcatraz.). But three other lesser-known men gained notoriety because they escaped from Alcatraz.

But did they make it to freedom?

Research Materials:

Books • Breakout! Escape from Alcatraz by Lori Haskins • The Escape from Alcatraz by Stephanie Watson

Podcasts • How Alcatraz Works from Stuff You Should Know • Did someone really escape from Alcatraz? from Stuff You Missed in History Class

Activities • Watch Mythbusters Season 2, Episode 8 • Play this Escape from Alcatraz card game • Read Escape from Alcatraz: June 11, 1962 from The History Channel • Watch Alcatraz: Search for the Truth • Take an “Alcatraz tour”

Extra Data (for moms and dads) • Escape from Alcatraz by J. Campbell Bruce • Escape from Alcatraz starring Clint Eastwood

Related Reads • Where is Alcatraz? by Nico Medina

History Mysteries Page 11 • Al Capone Does my Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko • Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures #12: Escape to California by Jeff Brown • The Alchemist series by Michael Scott

Discussion questions 1. Do you think the guys who escaped from Alcatraz survived? 2. Why do you think the men were so desperate to leave Alcatraz? 3. What did you think of their plan, to use hair from the barbershop and make “lifeboats?” 4. Is there any evidence to say they survived? Or that they didn’t? 5. If you were a detective, how would you investigate whether or not they survived?

History Mysteries Page 12 Mystery: Operation Mincement and how Britain tricked the Germans during WW II

Background information: Operation Mincemeat was a deception plan created during World War II to convince Germany that the allies were going to invade Greece or Sardinia instead of Sicily.

A man name Ewen Montagu (along with many cohorts) crafted the plan, which included dropping a dead body from the sky to be “discovered.” This man would be carrying very important papers pointing to top-secret plans, but that’s not all – the man would have a completely fabricated identity, including name, religion and birthplace.

He would also have a fake fiancée, and be carrying her letters (women from the MI5 clerical staff vied for this important role!), as well as a letter from his bank saying he was overdrawn, and even theatre stubs.

Everything on the body had a purpose, but it would it be enough to fool Hitler and the Nazis?

NOTE: My family was very intrigued by this story, but definitely preview everything first. Some kids get really scared about the idea of a dead body, and this true tale also mentions death/possible suicide and alcoholism. You can skip any part of this unit or all of it if it doesn’t feel right!

Research Materials:

Read • Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Tramp Fooled Hitler from BBC

Podcasts • Operation Mincemeat Part 1 from Stuff You Missed in History Class • Operation Mincemeat Part 2 from Stuff You Missed in History Class

Activities • Watch Operation Mincemeat on BBC • Listen to this interview with Operation Mincemeat author Ben Macintyre • Explore this topic on Academic Kids • Watch The Man Who Never Was • Pull out your atlas, map or globe and find Greece, Sardinia and Sicily

History Mysteries Page 13 • Listen for the names Ian Fleming and the line “A suggestion [not a very nice one]” and Roald Dahl as you learn about this story

Extra Data (for moms and dads) • Operation Mincement by Ben Macintyre • The Man Who Never Was by Ewen Monatgu and Lord Ismay • Operation Mincement: How a Corpse Fooled the Nazis from Stuff You Should Know

Related Reads • You Wouldn’t Want to be A Secret Agent During World War II by John Malam • Hoodwinked by Stephen Shapiro • Ultra Hush-Hush by Stephen Shapiro • Infinity Ring Book 6: Behind Enemy Lines by Jennifer A. Nielsen • Everything by Roald Dahl!

Related Reads for Mom and Dad • Double Cross by Ben Macintyre • Zigzag Girl by Elly Griffiths

Discussion questions 1. Why would it be important to trick the Germans into thinking the Allies were going to invade in a different place? 2. Why do you think the team behind Operation Mincemeat went to so much trouble to create a fake identity for Major William Martin? 3. Why do you think so many of the MI5 clerical staff wanted to be Martin’s pretend fiancée? 4. When you heard about this idea, did you think Operation Mincemeat would work? 5. Would you like to be a spy or in charge of an operation like this?

History Mysteries Page 14 Mystery: The Curse of the Hope Diamond

Background information: The Hope Diamond is a rare deep blue stone that probably originally came from India. It’s known for its large size – 45.52 carats, and its value – around $350 million.

But it’s also known for its curse.

This mysterious and possible deadly diamond has been owned by a King, stolen and recovered, set into a tiara and a pendant … and many people who have come in contact with the famous diamond have gone on to experience really bad luck.

The Hope Diamond is currently on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. It’s one of the most visited objects in the world.

You can go there and see it - but you might not want to touch it.

Research Materials:

Podcasts • The Mysterious Hope Diamond, Part 1 from Stuff You Missed in History Class • The Mysterious Hope Diamond, Part 2 from Stuff You Missed in History Class

Activities • Watch Mystery of the Hope Diamond on the Smithsonian Channel • Peruse this Hope Diamond timeline • Trace the diamond’s route on a map • Watch this video from the Travel Channel • Take this virtual tour! • Dig for some gems • Watch Night at the Museum, Battle of the Smithsonian

Extra Data (for moms and dads) • The Hope Diamond by Richard Kurin • 10 victims of the Hope Diamond’s Curse

Related Reads • Awesome Adventures at the Smithsonian by Emily B. Korrell • Gemstones of the World by Walter Schumann • Smithsonian History of America in 101 Objects by Richard Kurin • Smithsonian Handbook: Gemstones by Cally Hall

History Mysteries Page 15 • Smithsonian History of the World in 1,000 Objects DK • National Geographic Readers: Rocks and Minerals Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld • Basher Guide Rocks and Minerals by Simon Basher

Discussion questions 1. Do you think the Hope Diamond is cursed? 2. Why do you think so many people have owned this famous gem? 3. Would you want to own the Hope Diamond?

History Mysteries Page 16 Mystery: The disappearance at Roanoke

Background information: Roanoke Colony was established on Roanoke Island in 1587 when a group of 115 colonists arrived from Britain led by John White.

The group was meant to establish a settlement, but it soon became clear that they would need more supplies. White was nominated to return to England, even though he was nervous to leave his daughter and newly born granddaughter.

White developed a code with the colonists, that if they moved, they should leave a carving in a tree so he would know where to go, and whether the group was safe.

A naval war with Spain caused White delays in getting back to England and returning to America, but when he arrived back to the new world, the colonist were gone and one word, the name of a local Native American tribe, was carved into a nearby tree.

The settlers were never found, and it isn’t known what happened to the group.

They simply disappeared.

Research Materials:

Read • Roanoke: The Lost Colony by Heidi E.Y. Stemple and Jane Yolen • The Lost Colony of Roanoke by Jane Fritz • The Mystery of Roanoke Colony by Xavier W. Niz • The Lost Colony of Roanoke from How Stuff Works

Podcasts • What Happened to the Lost Colony at Roanoke from Stuff You Missed in History Class • What Happened to the Lost Colony at Roanoke (Update) from Stuff You Missed in History Class

Activities • Choose a few projects from this book • Explore the Roanoke Island Historical Association’s website • Watch the History Channel’s “Lost Colony of Roanoke”

History Mysteries Page 17

Extra Data (for moms and dads) • Roanoke: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Colony by Lee Miller • Archaeologists Find New Clues to “Lost Colony” Mystery from History • Have We Found the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island? from National Geographic • The Roanoke Island Colony: Lost and Found? from the New York Times

Related Reads • The Dreadful, Smelly Colonies by Elizabeth Raum • You Wouldn’t Want to be an American Colonist by Jacqueline Morley • Blue Birds by Caroline Starr Rose

Discussion questions 1. What do you think happened to the colonists? 2. Would you have wanted to be one of the

History Mysteries Page 18 Mystery: Who killed John F. Kennedy?

Background information: On. Nov. 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

He was riding in an open limousine along with his wife, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Texas Governor John Connally (who was also shot but survived), and Connally’s wife, Nellie.

Police quickly arrested Lee Harvey Oswald for the crime. But two days later, long before the case could go to trial, a man named Jack Ruby shot and killed Oswald.

Many people have suspected that neither Oswald nor Ruby “acted alone.”

But what does the evidence say?

NOTE: Here is another case that involves death, and for a lot of young children, this case might be too much. My older child, who is 12, became interested in this case this year, and so we talked about it together. We have chosen not to view videos that show the actual assassination yet, so the research materials listed do not show it.

Research Materials:

Read • The Assassination of John F. Kennedy from Eyewitness to History • Death of the President from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

This book contains images that may be troubling to some kids: • The President Has Been Shot! by James L. Swanson (recommended for Grade 6 and up by School Library Journal)

Podcasts • Who Killed JFK? from Stuff You Should Know (Note: this podcast gives a very graphic description of the wounds sustained by Kennedy and Connally and the immediate aftermath of the shooting)

Activities • Explore the Secret Service website

History Mysteries Page 19

Extra Data (for moms and dads) • 11/22/63 by Stephen King • Peruse these resources from American Experience

Related Reads • Who was John F. Kennedy? By Yelda Zeldis McDonough • Time for Kids: John F. Kennedy (Time) • Jack’s Path of Courage by Doreen Rappaport • High Hopes: A Photobiography of John F. Kennedy by Deborah Heiligman • Who was Jackie Kennedy? by Bonnie Bader (out Dec. 6, 2016) • A Career as a Secret Service Agent by Therese Shea

Discussion questions 1. Why do you think John F. Kennedy was been killed? 2. Do you think Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone? 3. Why do you think Jack Ruby killed Lee Harvey Oswald? 4. How has security for the president changed over the years?

History Mysteries Page 20 Mystery: Salem Witch Trials – what’s with the witches?

Background information: In the late 1600s in America, people in Salem, Massachusetts, became concerned that witches were living among them. Between February 1692 and May 1693, 20 people were put to death because they were believed to be witches.

Back then, witchcraft was a common superstition – people believed in charms and dark magic. Witchcraft was seen to be the work of Satan and was very frightening to the Puritans.

And so people who were thought to be witches were put on trial and if they were found guilty, they were killed.

But were there really witches in Salem?

Research Materials:

Read • The Salem Witch Trials: An Unsolved Mystery from History by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple • What Were the Salem Witch Trials? by Joan Holub • The Salem Witch Trials by Michael J. Martin • You Wouldn’t Want to be a Salem Witch by Jim Pipe

Podcasts • What Really Happened in Salem? from Stuff You Missed in History Class

Activities • Explore the Salem Witch Trials at History • Visit the Salem Witch Museum online • Get interactive and Explore Salem • Read about A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trails from Smithsonian

Extra Data (for moms and dads) • Six Women of Salem by Marilynne K. Roach

Related Reads • Dear America: I Walk in Dread by Lisa Rowe Fraustino • The Crucible by Arthur Miller

History Mysteries Page 21 • The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Discussion questions 1. Do you think the accused people were really witches? 2. Why do you think the girls in Salem were acting strangely? 3. Do you think the trials were fair? 4. What do you think of the “tests” that were used to determine if someone was a witch? 5. Why do you think so many people believed that the accused people were witches?

History Mysteries Page 22 Mystery: Amelia Earhart – Where did she go?

Background information: Almost 80 years ago, famed aviator Amelia Earhart disappeared while trying to circumnavigate the globe around the Equator.

Earhart had become quite famous internationally and was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She had been awarded The Flying Cross and the National Geographic Award.

On July 2, 1937, she and her navigator Fred Noonan departed from Papua, New Guinea, setting out for Howland Island for the longest stretch of their flight.

But the final approach to Howland Island was not successful, and Earhart’s plane, the Electra, lost contact with the crew of a coast guard ship called the Itasca, which had been trying to provide navigational support during that leg of the flight.

The Electra, Earhart and Noonan never arrived on Howland Island and were never seen again.

So what happened?

Research Materials:

Read • Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming • Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator by Shelley Tanaka • Who Was Amelia Earhart? by Kate Boehm Jerome • National Geographic Readers: Amelia Earhart by Caroline Gilpin • Amelia Earhart: Legendary Aviator by Jameson Anderson

Podcasts • The Amelia Earhart Mystery from Stuff You Missed in History Class (** these podcasts do not contain some of the most update research, but they are still packed with good information **) • Why can’t we find Amelia Earhart? from Stuff You Should Know (there is an oh- so-brief adult reference in this one!)

Activities

History Mysteries Page 23 • Read about a clue in the disappearance • Study why it took so long to link Amelia’s disappearance to a piece of metal • Investigate Will the Search for Amelia Earhart Ever End? from Smithsonian • Watch this short video • Explore this case with the History Detectives • Listen to this dramatization of her last radio call

Extra Data (for moms and dads) • Finding Amelia by Ric Gillespie

Related Reads • I am Amelia Earhart by Brad Meltzer • Amelia Earhart #8: Lady Lindy by Ann Hood • Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic by Robert Burleigh

Related Reads for Moms and Dads • The Fun of It (Amelia Earharts’s autobiography) • The Sound of Wings by Mary S. Lovell

Discussion questions 1. So what do you think happened to Amelia Earhart? 2. Do you think she survived following her disappearance? Maybe on an island? 3. What do you think of the mysterious “piece of metal?” 4. What information can we gather from her last radio call?

History Mysteries Page 24