Hi. This is our first year using Classical Tapestry (year 1), but we are so excited to begin. I was trying to print some outline maps onto transparencies like the Introductory notes suggest. But the ink smears and never dries. I did a search and noticed others have printed onto paper then used the overlays. But is there a secret to doing this that I am not aware of? Also, is there a method to the overlays that will help us make them easily?
Thanks for any advice on this.

Hi! We don't ever print directly onto the transparencies - - we just use them (blank) on top of the base maps, then add interesting things to them when needed.

The trick seems to be this: look at your kids' assignments (from the SAPs), and figure out for YOURSELF what would look cool on a transparency.

For example, if they're supposed to do a map with four different types of info (i.e. bodies of water/rivers and major cities, country boundaries, locations of wars over territory, later country boundaries), you could do this:

* paper map = label water/cities (things that stay constant)
* 1st transparency = draw original country boundaries and shade with a light color marker
* 2nd transparency = indicate/name major battle sites
* 3rd transparency = draw final country boundaries in a different color (or skip colors and use different types of outlines)

That's just an idea, and we don't usually go into that much detail. You can split up almost ANY assignment into a base map plus overlays, if you want.

It takes awhile to figure out that YOU get to determine how each week's assignment should turn out!

Does that help at all?

Becca in CO

Thank you, that does help. I am wondering the best way to secure them in the notebook, too? Do you put them into a sleeve protector or hole punch the transparency itself? I tried to hole-punch my transparency, but my hole puncher got stuck! Now I can't get it back open again.
Any better ideas?

That's funny! The same thing happened to me . . . We were picking pieces of plastic out of it with a tweezers!

We punched them with a piece of paper on each side, and that seemed to help. Otherwise, I'd suggest taking them to Kinko's or someplace where they'll do it for you. I don't think they'd charge you for that.

HTH!

Becca in CO (BTW, what's your name?)

I think if you put them in page protectors it will get hard to see through everything . . . but I'm not positive.

Mine got stuck, too! If you can get to the bottom where you can see the punches (mine has a rubber bottom on it that holds all the paper circles) try pushing on them with something hard like a screwdriver and they should unlock for you.

Now I don't feel so silly that I was the only one that happened to!

Sue in MA

Thanks for the hole puncher advice! ha ha
Sorry I forgot to sign my notes. This has been my first time posting.
Alicia in NC