American
History Year One Curriculum
Books and Materials List for Topic 14
This page contains the books and materials (plus reviews) used in our American history curriculum topic 14. This topic in our history curriculum will explore colonial times, the Salem witch hunts, Benjamin Franklin and more.
Books and Materials for Topic 14
The
New Americans: Colonial Times: 1620-1689 (The American Story) by Betsy Maestro,
Giulio Maestro
This is a terrific book to get an overview of this time period. We enjoyed the vibrant illustrations and reading through the easy to understand information.
Topic 14
Otter's rating: 5 stars
Benjamin
Franklin (Edgar D’Aulaire)
This is another favorite of ours (we love all of the D'Aulaire books). The story is simply told and enhanced by the wonderful illustrations and the sayings from Poor Richard's Almanac on each page. This is a wonderful introduction to Benjamin Franklin that won't be forgotten.
Topic 14
Otter's rating: 5 stars
Benjamin Franklin [videorecording]
/ a production of Schlessinger Media, a division of Library Video Company ; produced
and directed by JWM Productions. Wynnewood, PA : Schlessinger Media, c2003.
Topic 14
Ben
Franklin and the Magic Squares (Step into Reading 3) (by Frank Murphy)
We happen to really like books that combine literature with math and that's exactly what this book does (while also covering some history). At the end of the story there are instructions that explain how to construct your own "magic squares".
Topic 14
Otter's rating: 5 stars
Ben
and Me (Robert Lawson)
This
humorous tale is told by a not so humble mouse, Amos.
I
chose this book because it's considered a "classic" and is often used
in elementary classes to spark some interest in history while getting some laughs.
I must not have a great sense of humor because I didn't care for it at all. My
son, however, really enjoyed it and snickered during parts. Although we had already
gone over some other books on Benjamin Franklin, I think he enjoyed "revisiting"
some of the events from the point of view of an often disgruntled mouse.
Do be warned that there are references to wine and also a comment about "enjoying the ladies" or something like that. You can easily skip the few/small questionable parts.
Because of the high level vocabulary, I don't recommend this as a reader for younger students.
Topic 14
Otter's rating: 5 stars
Childhood
of Famous Americans: Benjamin Franklin (by Augusta Stevenson)
This turned
out to be my son's favorite book from this topic. I intended it to be a reader
but ended up reading it out loud to him. I drew it out one or two chapters a day
and he was always begging for more. This story of Benjamin's childhood is simply
told and very easy to understand. Because it's from the perspective of a "child",
I think my son found it quite appealing and fun.
Topic 14
Otter's rating: 5 stars
Courage
of Sarah Noble (Alice Dalgliesh)
This is a beautiful story of bravery and
an excellent "beginning" chapter book. Even older readers will most
likely be charmed by the story's simplicity and enjoy the thread of adventure
throughout.
This book remains one of my oldest daughter's favorites and brings back warm and cozy memories of learning American history for the first time.
Topic 14
*This is an optional read-aloud
from a free online text.
23.
THE FOUNDING OF MASSACHUSETTS
24.
THE STORY OF HARRY VANE
25.
THE STORY OF ANNE HUTCHINSON AND THE FOUNDING OF RHODE ISLAND
26.
THE FOUNDING OF HARVARD
27.
HOW QUAKERS FIRST CAME TO NEW ENGLAND
28.
HOW MAINE AND NEW HAMPSHIRE WERE FOUNDED
29.
THE FOUNDING OF CONNECTICUT AND WAR WITH THE INDIANS
30.
THE FOUNDING OF NEW HAVEN
31.
THE HUNT FOR THE REGICIDES
32.
KING PHILIP'S WAR
33.
HOW THE CHARTER OF CONNECTICUT WAS SAVED
34.
THE WITCHES OF SALEM
35.
THE FOUNDING OF MARYLAND
36.
HOW NEW AMSTERDAM BECAME NEW YORK
37.
HOW A GERMAN RULED NEW YORK
38.
PIRATES!
39.
THE FOUNDING OF NEW JERSEY
40.
THE FOUNDING OF PENNSYLVANIA
41.
HOW BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CAME TO PHILADELPHIA
42.
THE FOUNDING OF NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA
43.
WAR WITH THE INDIANS IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA
44.
THE FOUNDING OF GEORGIA
Roger Williams & Rhode
Island [videorecording] / Stone House Productions ; director, John McCally ; producer
C. W. Rogers ; writer, Kate Youngdahl. Wynnewood, PA : Schlessinger Media, c1999.
“Students explore the settlement of Rhode Island through realistic reenactments
filmed at actual historic locations.”
Topic 14
Settling the New World [videorecording]
/ produced and directed by Stone House Productions, LLC. Wynnewood, PA : Schlessinger
Media, c1999.
“Presents a brief portrait of
daily life in the settlements while describing the important contributions each
group brought to the development of the new American society.”
Topic 14
The Dutch & New Amsterdam
[videorecording] / Stone House Productions ; director, John McCally ; producer,
C. W. Rogers; writer, Kate Youngdahl. Wynnewood, PA : Schlessinger Media, c1999.
“Students explore the settlement of New
Amsterdam through realistic reenactments filmed at actual historic locations.”
Topic 14
What's
The Big Idea, Ben Franklin? (by Jean Fritz)
This is a good book that covers a lot of material in an accessible way for young readers. I read it out loud, but motivated students could handle it by themselves.
There is a movie by this same title that is basically a woman reading the book and a few animations of the illustrations taken directly from the pages of the book.
Topic 14
Otter's rating: 5 stars
Whales:
[videorecording] : an unforgettable journey / Christopher Palmer and David Clark
Producers ; directed by David Clark, Al Giddings, Roger Payne.
This movie
was originally presented in IMAX Theaters. It features close-up encounters with
the blue whale and follows the humpbacks, right whales, Orcas and dolphins. (It
goes with the science for topic 14.)
Topic 14
Otter's rating: 3 stars
William Penn & Pennsylvania
[videorecording] / Stone House Productions ; director, John McCally ; producer,
C. W. Rogers ; writer, Kate Youngdahl. Wynnewood, PA : Schlessinger Media, c1999.
“Students explore the settlement of Pennsylvania
through realistic reenactments filmed at actual historic locations.”
Topic 14
Witch
Hunt: It Happened in Salem Village (Step into Reading, Step 4 (by Stephen
Krensky)
I consider this book optional, but it will give your child an easy
to understand foundation about the Salem Witch trials. It will also give you a
good opportunity to discuss dishonesty and about being a “false witness” and the
consequences of such.
Topic 14
Otter's rating: 3 stars
PLUS
History Pockets: Colonial America
The Story of the U.S.A. Book 1
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