American
History Year One
Books and Materials List for Topic 1
This page contains the books and materials (plus reviews) used in our American history curriculum topic 1. In this topic you will learn about the Seminoles.
Books and Materials for Topic 1
Draw
Write Now Book 3 (by Marie Hablitzel and KimStitzer) –A Drawing and Handwriting
Course
This book contains beginning drawing lessons combined with text for
handwriting practice (the book is NOT consumable). My kids have had excellent
results; they learned a little history, drawing and coloring techniques and practiced
their handwriting using just this one book! The end product is a nice addition
to your history notebook. Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 * Purchase to work from
(non-consumable).
Otter's rating: 5 stars
History
Pockets, Grades 1-3, Native Americans (Evan-Moor)
(to paste on the map), dictionary cards (illustrated vocabulary words for a booklet),
teacher fact sheet (I read these out-loud), student booklet and activities (the
activities are usually a combination of crafty things, some writing, etc.). History
Pockets makes history FUN (and more memorable)! Click on the picture to the right
to see some of the pockets we made!
Click here to see the entire book, page-by-page at Evan-Moor.
Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 * Purchase and photocopy.
Otter's rating: 4 stars
Night
Bird: A Story of the Seminole Indians (Once Upon America)
This story is a fictional account of a clan hiding out in the Florida Everglades
(and is specifically about a girl named Night Bird). You can get an idea of the
Seminole’s lives and some of their beliefs in this easy to read and understand
story. At the end of the book there are a couple of pages on historical and current
information about the Seminoles. What my son got from this book is a picture of
what life was like for the Seminoles during the Seminole wars (staring in 1835).
It made history seem more “real” to read about what Night Bird and her clan was
going through. This book has helped cement the Seminoles more firmly my son’s
mind (as well as the vocabulary from History Pockets like chickee, Green Corn
Ceremony, etc.). It’s not the “best” literature out there, but it’s worth a read.
*See our study guide / questions that go with this book here.*
Topic:
1
Otter's rating: 3 stars
North
American Indians (Marie and Douglas Gorsline)
This
is a wonderfully illustrated and simple introduction to a variety of Indian tribes.
Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Otter's review: 4 stars
Seminole
Children and Elders Talk Together (Library of Intergenerational Learning. Native
Americans )(by E. Barrie Kavasch) I recommend getting this book from the library
instead of purchasing it. It is a good selection for your book basket.
Topic: 1
The
Indian Book (1980 Annual Childcraft)
You’ll have to do an online search
to find this book (or buy it used from Amazon), but it’s an excellent resource for a study on Native Americans.
It has beautiful illustrations and lots of stories, information, etc. about the
different tribes. I would use it for a backbone for the study topics 1-7, except
that it can be hard to locate. It’s a very nice addition for a home library.
Topic 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
The
Seminole (by Stefanie Takacs)
This is a simple to read a nicely photographed
book about the Seminole Indians that discusses not just history but also current
traditions and culture.
Topic: 1
Otter's rating: 3 stars
Story
Of The U.S.A. Book 1 Student Explorers And Settlers
This workbook covers the "First Americans" through the American Revolution. Each section starts out with a list of vocabulary words and simple definitions that will be presented in the reading section. The reading sections start out with a few questions to keep in mind and then teach the topic (vocabulary words are presented in bold for easy recognition). Once the topic is read about there are comprehension questions, true false questions, a circle the correct answer activity, and fill in the blanks, to show mastery of the material. There are also discussion questions (to go over with mom or dad or written down in the book). The workbook is illustrated with simple line drawings and contains some maps.
I used this workbook because it covers most of the events in early American history in a concise, easy to understand manner. It also helps familiarize students with standardized testing formats in a non-threatening way while helping with comprehension skills. This is a valuable skill for those who have to participate in state testing and helpful in honing general study skills.
You can use it as independent seatwork or work on the sections together. For students who are reluctant to write, you can ask them the questions at the end of each reading selection after they've read the text (or you've read it out-loud). If you don't like workbooks or this sounds like "busy-work", please feel free to skip it as it is NOT essential to your studies.
We actually ended up only using parts of it. We also did a lot of it "orally".
Topics: 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 *Consumable
Otter's rating: 5 stars
Wee
Sing America Book and CD
Topics:
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
Otter's rating: 3 stars
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Look below for all of our American History Year One goodies:
Pictures of some activities we did
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