A 10-Day Red Rex Homeschool Adventure
Homeschool
Audio By Carbonatix
If your homeschool readers perk up at dinosaurs, ancient history, courage-filled adventures, and sibling humor, then you’re going to LOVE Red Rex by Matthew Mellema and illustrated by Brian Mellema. This Young Adult/upper-middle-grade novel brings together:
- Dinosaur-riding in a Roman-era world
- A lovable underdog hero (a 14-year-old stegosaurus herder!)
- Strong family themes and moral growth
- Footnotes that make worldbuilding feel real and researchable
- Award-winning illustrations inspired by woodblock art
- Homeschool brothers who built a world together and kept the imagination alive into adulthood
And yes… homeschool moms love this one. (I already bought a copy for my grandson!)
What do I love most? This story sparks the same kind of curiosity and creativity we want to cultivate in our homeschool days—learning that doesn’t feel like learning, just good fun and exploration.
Why Red Rex Works So Well For Homeschoolers
When I interviewed the authors, one moment made me smile as a homeschool mom. Matthew shared: “I realized the lesson I wrote into the story was one I needed, too.”
YES. That’s what makes powerful literature. Kids don’t need a sermon—they need a story where courage grows, mistakes shape wisdom, and selfishness transforms into serving others.
Along with the story, footnotes provide additional facts about the dinosaurs on the page. Matthew laughed as he told me, “I included all the things I would have wanted to know when I was that age.” That’s homeschool gold. Kids who love to understand how things work get rewarded for curiosity.
These brothers were actually homeschooled themselves.
Matthew’s brother Brian, who designed the award-winning cover) added, “We wanted the art to feel like it came from that world—like the original block-prints were discovered with this manuscript.”
That level of creative immersion invites kids to draw, imagine, research, and world-build right alongside the text! It’s a perfect story to read together in your homeschool, and here are some activities to go along with it.
Listen to the podcast episode featuring Matthew and Brian Mellema here!
Red Rex Homeschool Adventure
A 10-Day Unit Study for Dinosaurs, Courage, Creativity, and Big Ideas!
Grab a cozy blanket, a cup of coffee or tea, and your copy of Red Rex — because we’re about to turn reading time into a full-blown adventure.
This plan is Charlotte-Mason-friendly, hands-on, faith-welcoming, and perfect for:
- Ages 9–15
- Multi-age homeschool families
- Kids who love stories, art, history, or DINOSAURS (so… most kids!)
Daily Rhythm:
15–20 minutes reading aloud or silent reading
30 minutes hands-on activity
Mini discussion + “exit ticket” reflection
Think short lessons, big imagination, and meaningful conversations.
Day 1 — Enter the World
Focus: Frame story + world rules
Supplies: Paper + pencil
Activity: “How This World Works” List
- As you read, pause whenever you see a rule of the world.
(ex. dinosaurs used for travel, footnotes give extra info, riding school exists)
Parent Script:
“Authors are world-builders! Let’s discover the rules of Red Rex’s world together. Every time we notice how things work here, we’ll write it down.”
Kid Task:
Create a list titled: How This Dino-World Works
Exit Ticket:
“The coolest world rule today was…”
Homeschool mom tip: Let your kids decorate their list with tiny dinos.
Day 2 — Draw the Island
Focus: Geography + logical habitats
Supplies: Blank paper, markers/colored pencils
Activity: Island Map
Draw the world! Include:
- Academy location
- Herbivore zones
- Predator territories
- Flying routes / cliffs
- Water sources
Parent Script:
“If dinosaurs were real here, where would each type live and why? Let’s make our map believable.”
Let kids add trees, mountains, nests, and danger zones!
Optional: Play soft adventure or jungle soundtrack music
Day 3 — Footnote Detectives
Focus: How footnotes support storytelling
Supplies: Notebook or printable chart
Activity: Footnote Log
Create 3 columns:
Footnote # | What it added | Why it matters
Parent Script:
“Footnotes are secret treasure rooms. Authors hide extra information here—let’s discover the treasure!”
Goal: Kids start to see the craft of writing — not just the story.
Day 4 — Dinosaur Research Card
Focus: Research + inference
Supplies: Index cards or paper
Activity: Rider Info Card
Include:
- Dinosaur name
- Size/strength
- Diet
- Danger level
- Riding notes
- Training tip
Parent Script:
“You’re a new trainer! Create a fast-info card so you don’t get eaten — or flung off a saddle!”
Kids LOVE this one. Let them invent a “danger score” 1–10.
Day 5 — Woodcut-Style Illustration
Focus: Art + visual storytelling
Supplies: Black marker, white paper
Activity: Simple block-print look
Steps:
- Sketch shape using simple bold outlines
- Fill shadows with lines + cross-hatching
- Add texture lines like wood grain
Parent Script:
“Big shapes first — then shadow lines. This style looks old-world and dramatic!”
Mom tip: Display everyone’s art gallery-style.
Day 6 — Ancient Civilizations Inspiration
Focus: History + worldbuilding
Supplies: Notebook
Activity: Venn Diagram —
Ancient Rome / Greece / Egypt vs Dino Academy
Categories to compare:
- School structure
- Weapons/tools
- Ranks / uniforms
- Animals used for labor or military
Parent Script:
“Fantasy isn’t random — it borrows from history. Let’s compare real ancient training schools with our dino academy.”
Fun bonus: Kids invent a uniform or badge system.
Day 7 — Academy Code of Conduct
Focus: Ethics + writing clear rules
Supplies: Notebook / fancy paper
Activity: 7–10 Academy Rules
Example starters:
- Always respect your mount because…
- Never enter predator territory alone because…
Parent Script:
“Secret bravery is selfish bravery. Write rules that protect both riders and dinosaurs.”
Post rules on the fridge
Day 8 — Courage vs. Selfishness Scene
Focus: Character & fiction writing
Supplies: Lined paper or Google Doc
Activity: Write a dramatic scene
Prompt: “Your character must choose between team safety and personal glory.”
Include:
- Internal thoughts
- A sensory detail
- Dialogue
Parent Script:
“Show me what your character feels, hears, fears, and chooses. That’s storytelling!”
Turn this into a read-aloud — popcorn style.
Day 9 — Add Your Own Footnote
Focus: Editing + creativity
Supplies: Printed draft or notebook
Activity:
Kids revise yesterday’s story and add one footnote that:
- Explains hidden world info
- Adds humor
- Clarifies a detail
Parent Script:
“Revision isn’t correction — it’s kindness to your reader.”
Homeschool win: character + writing + empathy!
Day 10 — Dino Academy Showcase
Focus: Presentation + confidence
Supplies: Everything from the week
Activity: Student “Admissions Interview”
Kids present:
- Map
- Research card
- Drawing
- Code of conduct
- Written scene
You play “academy examiner”
Ask: “Why should we admit you to the academy?”
End with badges or certificates
Celebrate with:
Dino-shaped cookies
Stickers
Pictures for your homeschool memory journal
Skills You Just Covered (Secretly 🤫)
- Literature analysis
- Research skills
- Geography
- Ancient history
- Ethics & character
- Creative writing
- Public speaking
- Art technique
- Critical thinking
They think they’re doing dinosaurs. You know they’re doing everything.
Faith Threads to Sprinkle In
- Humility: Philippians 2:3–4
- Courage: Joshua 1:9
- Growth & grace: God shapes us like good stories shape characters
Share this reflection from author Matthew: “You end up writing the lesson you need yourself.”
A perfect homeschool truth. We teach — and God teaches us as we go.
Additional Resources
Need Homeschool Confidence & Clarity? Start Here
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to begin, Homeschool Basics by Tricia Goyer & Kristi Clover will walk you through schedules, curriculum, confidence, and peace-filled routines.
It’s like having two veteran homeschool moms at your kitchen table saying,
“You can do this — and you don’t have to do it alone.”
Raise Kids with Lasting Faith
Want practical tools to disciple your kids while you homeschool?
Pick up Faith That Sticks by Tricia Goyer & Leslie Nunnery — packed with simple routines, Scripture ideas, prayers, and biblical encouragement for shaping hearts every day.
This is one to keep on your nightstand and return to again and again.
Spark Wonder & Worship in Your Science Studies
Turn your science time into awe-filled discovery!
Explore God’s underwater world with Wonders of the Ocean Realm by Tricia Goyer & Sherri Seligson — stunning art, real marine-life science, faith reflections, and family discussion questions.
Perfect for unit studies, morning basket time, or curious animal lovers.
Want Weekly Homeschool Wisdom & Ready-to-Use Ideas?
Get The Homeschool Answer Book — my free weekly email filled with encouragement, practical tips, and fresh teaching inspiration delivered right to your inbox.
It’s like getting a friend, a mentor, and a cheerleader every Monday morning!
