Our Year of American History

June 13, 2008

Back in November I blogged about how I was making adjustments to my beloved Sonlight material to better match my younger two children in 1st and 5th grades. As I explained in that post, I dropped the spine Sonlight offers for American History: The Landmark History of the American People. We also dropped a few others and added in more hands-on activities. The result has been wonderful. My daughter began this year saying, "I hate history," and I can happily say that she now loves history. Adding in all the hands-on activities was exactly what she needed. We took the year slowly, not adhering to any particular time-frame. We began with Native Americans and went through the Constitution. I thought we might finish with Lewis and Clark, but we didn't quite get that far. I look forward to starting next fall on the trail of those great explorers! I think we'd all agree that one of the best parts of the year was making our Revolutionary War lapbooks. Well, that and our trip to Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown! And so, our year in American History: Unit 1: Native Americans The Story of the USA: Chapters 1 & 2 North American Indians (Marie and Douglas Gorsline) If You Lived With the Sioux Indians (Ann McGovern) Om-Kas-Toe by Kenneth Thomasma Evan-Moor History Pockets: Native American American Indian Prayer Guide Come Look With Me: American Indian Art Various recipes from the internet, including Indian fry bread and Maple Popcorn balls. (During American Heritage Girls summer camp, we did the Native American badge and primarily used More Than Moccasins as a craft and food book. I highly recommend this.) Unit 2: Columbus The Story of the USA: Chapters 3-5  Pedro's Journal by Pam Conrad Unit 3: Jamestown The Story of the USA: Chapter 9   Pocahontas and the Strangers by Clyde Robert Bulla A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla My America Series: Elizabeth’s Jamestown Colony Diaries: Our Strange New Land; The Starving Time, and Season of Promise Movies: Story of Pocahontas (Nest Family Movies); Disney's Pocahontas Unit 4: Mayflower Story of USA: Chapter 10   If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 (Ann McGovern) American Adventures #1: The Mayflower Adventure (Colleen Reece) Dear America: A Journey to the New World (The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple) American Family Paper Dolls: Pilgrim Period (Tom Tierney) Colonial Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in the New World (Laurie Carlson)—begin various crafts, recipes, etc. Unit 5: Plymouth The Light and the Glory: Chapter 6-7 American Adventures Series: Plymouth Pioneers; Dream Seekers; and Fire by Night. Movies: William Bradford: The First Thanksgiving (Nest Family Entertainment); Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale (Disney) Pilgrim Coloring Pages Pilgrims from American Family Paper Dolls Unit 6: Life in the Colonies (late 1600s-1770)   Story of USA Book 1: Chapters 11 & 12 American Adventures: Smallpox Strikes The Witch of Blackbird Pond The Sign of the Beaver (novel and movie) Colonial crafts from Colonial Kids: braided rug, sock dolls, Colonial crafts from Colonial America Easy Projects: log cabin for Sign of the Beaver Dear America series: Standing in the Light: The Captive Diary of Catharine Carey Logan (1763) Unit 7: Countdown to the Revolution (1770-1775)   American Adventures: Boston Revolts Johnny Tremain Movie: Johnny Tremain Colonial America Easy Projects: Boston town meeting, map of Boston What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? Can't You Make Them Behave, King George? Unit 8: The American Revolution (1775-1776)   American Revolution: A Magic Tree House Research Guide (Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce). Fantastic guide to life in the colonies and the American Revolution. Great amount of information—not too much and not too simplistic. Boston Tea Party: Excellent picture book of the events leading up to the Revolutionary War. Meet George Washington George Washington's Teeth: a picture book describing the real story of GW’s “wooden teeth.” The timeline at the end is especially interesting. George Washington (video—Nest Entertainment, Animated Hero Classics) My America Series: Hope's Revolutionary War Diary: Five Smooth Stones; We Are Patriots; and When Freedom Comes Phoebe the Spy Meet Thomas Jefferson And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? Hands-On History American Revolution projects: Boston Tea Party flip book, Mini-book of Paul Revere’s Ride, Declaration of Independence quiz panel. Websites: Paul Revere's Ride (http://www.earlyamerica.com/paul_revere.htm) and here http://www.cvesd.k12.ca.us/finney/paulvm/h1_midride/ridepages_nosound/ridefset.html American Independence (video—American History for Children series by Schlessinger Productions) History of US flag coloring book dowload (www.hellopress.net/free%20downloads/May-July/US_Flag_Coloring_Book.pdf) Make Revolutionary War lapbooks Source for famous quotes Unit 9: A New Nation  Chap. 1 The Story of the USA, Book 2: Chap. 1 and 2 If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution Shhh! We're Writing the Constitution! Family Trip to Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown! Unit 10: Moving Westward The Cabin Faced West (to be continued next fall!)