American History for 8th grade

[moonlight]

My DS 13 hasn't had much history. It's just not his thing. Anytime we've done something, it's never really stuck. 

 

I need something easy and engaging. Something that he can just read would be a bonus. 

 

For the purpose of suggestions, let's assume he knows nothing about American History. 

 

If he does American History in 8th grade, would he need to do some sort of American History in high school or could he get away with not doing it by doing other electives. We're doing Big History Project with written output, discussion, projects as part of high school history. We'll also likely do a year of World History.

 

And I'd like to do a Human or Social Geography class with books like I am Malala, Kite Runner, Red Scarf Girl, Running the Rift, Beyond the Beautiful Forevers, and Guns, Germs and Steel. I could list books forever. There are so many good ones. 

 

Thanks!

[mom2att]

In my state U.S. History is a high school graduation requirement. Not that homeschoolers have to meet these requirements, but they are competing against public schooled students who have completed such requirements for college spots. And while colleges may not view a homeschool transcript with the same respect as a transcript from a state-certified school, I do think they want to see similar classes completed by homeschoolers.

 

So with that in mind, it seems completing U.S. History in high school would be important. I suggest stretching it out over two years and doing a very thorough U.S. History in 8th and 9th.

[ondreeuh]

Bookshark US history (currently grade 8, but I think it is being rebranded as grade 9 soon). It uses Hakim's History of Us series, has discussion questions and some supplemental history. You don't need to do the LA that they sell with it - I used Moving Beyond the Page 12-14. It has been a very successful year!

 

We are doing World Geography & Cultures next year for 9th. I'm weaving in lit from around the world and yes, there are so many good choices.

[mschickie]

We are going to be doing BJU for 8th grade US History next year.  Another option is the new History Detectives Books by The Critical Thinking Company.  I had looked at those and thought they would work well for 8th grade since I know we have to do US History in high school too but at the time they were not sure when the second book was coming out.  (of course it is coming out in May, oh well).  I liked the BJU program though because it was detailed and the activity book has a number of primary source documents.  It was a solid program.

[mlktwins]

We are going to do this https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Materials/mItem.aspx?id=2852

[Insertcreativenamehere]

You might look at CLE's 8th grade American History. The textbook sounds great! 

[Mrs Twain]

Next year I will have my eighth grader read A Patriot's History of the United States and do the Critical Thinking Company's US History Detective workbooks.

[foxbridgeacademy]

My DS 13 hasn't had much history. It's just not his thing. Anytime we've done something, it's never really stuck. 

 

I need something easy and engaging. Something that he can just read would be a bonus. 

 

For the purpose of suggestions, let's assume he knows nothing about American History. 

 

If he does American History in 8th grade, would he need to do some sort of American History in high school or could he get away with not doing it by doing other electives. We're doing Big History Project with written output, discussion, projects as part of high school history. We'll also likely do a year of World History.

 

And I'd like to do a Human or Social Geography class with books like I am Malala, Kite Runner, Red Scarf Girl, Running the Rift, Beyond the Beautiful Forevers, and Guns, Germs and Steel. I could list books forever. There are so many good ones. 

 

Thanks!

First thing to address is whether you have to do US Hist in H.S. I'd look at what your state requires of HSers if it doesn't then no, technically, you don't have to do it.  Even though my state doesn't require US Hist. for HSer's (it does for P.S.) all the local Colleges and even Community Colleges do, so you'll want to check that out. 

You could spread US history out over 8th and 9th or just wait and do it later.

[Guest]

Notgrass :)