Sahamamama Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 We would like to read through American History next year (2010), using living books (A Book in Time has a nice list). But we need a spine, to fill in the gaps where the library doesn't have a book on, say, Eli Whitney (at my daughter's level). What would you use for American History (beginnings to 1900s) for a primary level child (as read alouds)? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyLittleWonders Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 I'm not sure if this fits the bill, but when we get there (this spring), I plan on using Howard Zinn's A Young People's History of the United States and Joy Hakim's A History of US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 Thanks! Is Joy Hakim's series written for a primary level? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyLittleWonders Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 That I'm not sure about ... I plan on using it with my 8 year old and 6 year old. Our library has most of them on the shelves, so I plan on checking them out if at all possible. Maybe see if you can get one that way before buying any to check grade-level appropriateness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 We did US history through the primary years, and I found the Cornerstones of Freedom and We the People series to be great non-fiction books to round out just about any topic. I tend to like the Cornerstones series a bit more, but I'd often get both from the library and see which one I liked better. As far as I know, the Joy Hakim series is written more for middle school level. Those series above do have some biographies, but for younger elementary biographies I like the Who was...? series and the Carolrhoda "On My Own" biographies even better. For upper elementary, my kids also really liked the Signature Lives series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 We are using A Child's History of America for primary ages (1st and 3rd). I love it. However, it does start with Christopher Columbus so you'd have to supplement topics like the First Americans and Viking explorers if you wanted to cover that. We are just using Evan Moore's History Pockets Native Americans and reading through Leif the Lucky by the D'Aulaires. I'm also using Hakim's books for "some" topics as a read-aloud. Her material is meant for Middle grades but could easily be read aloud to youngers. I'm loosely following guesthollow.com 's Amer. Hist. schedule and adding in my own books as we are interested. HTH. You could also try MFW's Story of the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 We are using A Child's History of America for primary ages (1st and 3rd). I love it. However, it does start with Christopher Columbus so you'd have to supplement topics like the First Americans and Viking explorers if you wanted to cover that. We are just using Evan Moore's History Pockets Native Americans and reading through Leif the Lucky by the D'Aulaires. I'm also using Hakim's books for "some" topics as a read-aloud. Her material is meant for Middle grades but could easily be read aloud to youngers. I'm loosely following guesthollow.com 's Amer. Hist. schedule and adding in my own books as we are interested. HTH. You could also try MFW's Story of the US. Hey, Sue, you could be my CLONE! This is so weird, in a good sort of way... your AH plan sounds EXACTLY like what I thought we'd do for next year: 1. Begin with EM's History Pockets for Native Americans & the "If You Lived With..." series 2. Read Leif the Lucky by the D'Aulaires 3. Follow GuestHollow's American History line-up (tweaked a bit, because I'm trying to get to 1900, LOL). 4. Adding in some books I think we might enjoy THANK YOU so much for the recommendation for A Child's History of America! I'm heading off now to look it up.... :auto: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 Sue, do you mean "A Child's History of America," by McGrath (1976), or do you mean "A Child's Story of America," by McHugh (1998)? This: http://www.amazon.com/Childs-History-America-McGrath/dp/0316559350/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258078076&sr=1-1 OR This: http://www.amazon.com/Childs-History-America-One-Syllable-Words/dp/1889128422/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258078076&sr=1-3 OR This: http://www.amazon.com/Childs-Story-America-79945/dp/1930092938/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258078076&sr=1-2 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Oh goodness. Forgive me. It is A Child's Story of America published by Christian Liberty Press. It covers from Columbus (it does briefly mention Leif the Lucky's expedition) through the Clinton Administration (just a brief summary of each "hot topic" from 1972 on...kwim?). Sorry for the confusion. It doesn't get into great detail, but it is a good introduction to Amer. History. Flesh it out with the History Pockets, some lapbooks, other biographies of famous people or whatever strikes your interest (or dc's interests). I'm also using SOTW 3 and 4 as read-alouds to fill in a bit of what is happening around the rest of the world at this time. Next year, my plan is to start with Creation to Greeks using MFW or possibly HOD. Not sure yet. Anyway, again, sorry for the confusion. BTW...I was able to get a bunch of the rec. books on paperbackswap.com (Squanto, Friend of Pilgrims, Night Bird and Pedro's Journal, North American Indians, If you Lived With the Sioux, etc.). Just an FYI. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TundraAcademy Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 The spines we are using this year are: Usborne Internet linked Encyclopedia of World History Story of the World 3 and 4 A Child's Story of America by CLP History of the United States by Abeka Complete Book of United States History by McGraw-Hill I have actually been pleasantly surprised with the Complete Book of US History and the History of the United States by Abeka. We are loving history this year. There are sooo many great books covering American History! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 I have actually been pleasantly surprised with the Complete Book of US History Me too! I just got it the other day and it looks like it will meet my needs perfectly. I looked at a lot of other books used as spines in other programs and they were either providential (not what I want) or written in very old-fashioned language that my son doesn't speak :tongue_smilie:. The Complete Book of US History cover a lot of ground, gives enough information to make it interesting but not so much it's overwhelming. Since it's only $10, I may even let my DS write in it ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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