PhotoGal Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 I'm planning on starting History Odyssey (ancients) in the spring, but I have realized that my second grader is confused about a few things in American history (confusing Columbus vs. Pilgrims, etc.). I don't want to add a full American history curriculum, but wondered if there is something simple we could do. (We will eventually catch up to American history in a couple years, but I'd like to give him a basic understanding now). He is a strong reader, so he could handle reading some things on his own. I'm picturing something like Evan Moor's Geography K-2, but for American history. Does something like that exist? Also, does anyone know of a good timeline (either printable or advice on what key events to include on a timeline we make ourselves)? I am hoping to find one that includes pre-Columbus times. What did those of you following a 4-year history cycle do to teach basic American history before your officially got to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Queen Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 You could get a list of history topics and use whatever picture books your public library has. Native Americans Columbus Jamestown Pilgrims George Washington Revolutionary war and so on Every week or two you could change topics. Your kids might like you to read the books to them. Your oldest might read them to himself later. You could simply ask them, "What was that book about?" and they could retell the book. *I* learned history I didn't know from children's picture books. Some of them are really very good. DK books have great photos. Other books tell rich stories that are much better than the ones in text books. Then again, some of them are boring, so you need to pick and choose. You may paraphrase the wordy ones. We use a CM Book of the Centuries instead of a time line on a wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytwomonkeys Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 i'm using elemental history with my 7 year old. it's light and fun. we also add in the extra readers the author recommends. it was cheap to purchase and fits the bill for what i was looking for. you could leave out the crafts and other things to make it even lighter. http://www.elementalhistory.com/ hth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmschooling Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Check table of contents and book selections for heart of Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dahliarw Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 For the American Revolution, there is an animated series on Netflix, Liberty's Kids, that is actually quite educational and entertaining. My 4yo and 6yo love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByGrace3 Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Top contenders for us for supplemental American history are: Beautiful Feet and Truthquest. Elemental history might also be an option... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 You want simple? There are so, so many good books for American history (right now we're drowning in so many colonial books that I can't even decide what to read and what to skip). However, to keep it simple, I suggest doing two things: 1. The Betsey Maestro books - beautifully illustrated, detailed, well-written - covers from Columbus to before the Civil War 2. The American Story by Jennifer Armstrong - a thick, nicely illustrated compendium of quick (1-4 pages each) stories from American history - some well-known and iconic, others slightly off-beat - goes all the way up to the very recent past If you don't like the style of the Maestro books, an alternative would be the Jean Fritz books, which focus on the colonial period and the revolution mostly. Like I said, there are lots and lots of other things out there, but if you just want a set of here, this is it, I don't want to go and research a million things, then that's my top picks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Twain Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 For K-2, I like to read A First Book in American History (Edward Eggeston). It is a nice overview book of American history up to about 1900, and it doesn't take too long to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotoGal Posted November 20, 2011 Author Share Posted November 20, 2011 Thank you so much for your help! I will check out these books and see what I can put together. The reason I want to keep it simple is we will already have two social studies topics going (learning about different countries of the world and then adding ancients). I can't imagine adding a third. But yet I feel ds should know the basics about American history. Maybe I will put off ancients until the summer. We have been studying Native Americans so it might make more sense to flow into American history for the spring instead. Hmmm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceyobu Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 MFW adventures. I haven't used it but was looking at it on their website earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savmom Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Guest Hollow has an amazing free American History curriculum & you could just follow the timeline & find a few of the books from your library (Jenn created this but I forgot her username :tongue_smilie:) I have used her other lesson plans (Science & History) and they are wonderful! She has really poured her heart into the schedules which is incredible considering they are FREE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Below are some really nice suggestions that we are using for American History in third grade right now. Added to that, we also listen to American History Stories Volumes 1-4 by Mara Pratt, and read and do the activities in Complete Book of US History. You want simple? There are so, so many good books for American history (right now we're drowning in so many colonial books that I can't even decide what to read and what to skip). However, to keep it simple, I suggest doing two things: 1. The Betsey Maestro books - beautifully illustrated, detailed, well-written - covers from Columbus to before the Civil War 2. The American Story by Jennifer Armstrong - a thick, nicely illustrated compendium of quick (1-4 pages each) stories from American history - some well-known and iconic, others slightly off-beat - goes all the way up to the very recent past If you don't like the style of the Maestro books, an alternative would be the Jean Fritz books, which focus on the colonial period and the revolution mostly. Like I said, there are lots and lots of other things out there, but if you just want a set of here, this is it, I don't want to go and research a million things, then that's my top picks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy7 Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 We loved Beautiful Feet History at that age. They have an early American history with lots of great books and you can do a notebook if you want to. They also have a timeline. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkermamaof4 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Beautiful Feet is light and fabulous. We had such a wonderful time with it. The D'Aulaire books are perfect. We scanned the pages and used them as coloring pages as it suggested. I can't say enough good about it. I would have continued with BF but they don't have primary years for other parts of history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmoe Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 For K-2, I like to read A First Book in American History (Edward Eggeston). It is a nice overview book of American history up to about 1900, and it doesn't take too long to read. I second this book. And you may want to add The American Story: 100 True Tales from American History by Jennifer Armstrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Twain Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 The other book by Edward Eggleston that goes nicely with A First Book in American History is called Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans. My kids love this book, and my son read most of the stories twice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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