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best one-volume US history for middle grades


mohop
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I am teaching a US history co-op class, and since we don't have enough class time to get through a lot, I wanted to pick historical topics to have the kids read about at home and then have discussion/activities in class.  The kids are generally ages 10-11.  I thought about using A Young People's History of the US (the Zinn adaptation), but it may be too heavy for these kids. But some of the other books I've seen are a bit too whitewashed for my liking.  The Joy Hakim series looks good, but I can't really ask the kids to all buy multi-volume works for our 10 weeks of class.  Anyone have a good one-volume US history resource to recommend?  Or maybe there are some online resources I could use for the different topics?  I just want them to come to class having done some background/contextual reading.  

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CLE's Changing Frontiers is a beautiful textbook. I wish they included the introduction and foreword in the sample because they are very good. Here are some points in the introduction for teachers and parents.

 

1. A history textbook should tell the truth as far as possible.

2. A history textbook should diligently seek to avoid telling history in a way that promotes a particular emphasis.

3. A history textbook should not gloss over the horrible ways humans have treated each other, nor should it vilify certain groups.

4. A history text should be the result of broad input. 

 

 

 

 

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Actually there are 4 books in the Hakim concise version. :)

 

What about watching Liberty Kids and pulling activities from there?

 

How about make a list of 10 events and use library books?

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Thanks for the great suggestion, everyone!  

 

I saw the 4-volume Hakim set that was created for K-12, and also saw that I can get super cheap used copies through Amazon, so I will probably get that for my own kids.  I am looking into some of your other suggestions as I speak (type)!

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CLE's Changing Frontiers is a beautiful textbook. I wish they included the introduction and foreword in the sample because they are very good. Here are some points in the introduction for teachers and parents.

 

1. A history textbook should tell the truth as far as possible.

2. A history textbook should diligently seek to avoid telling history in a way that promotes a particular emphasis.

3. A history textbook should not gloss over the horrible ways humans have treated each other, nor should it vilify certain groups.

4. A history text should be the result of broad input. 

 

 

This looks like a good resource.  I like the way it is outlined.  How strong is the religious perspective?  How do you think a non-Christian (monotheist) or non-religious person would take to it?  

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