American History – Colonization and the Creation of a Country

American History – Colonization and the Creation of a Country is a well-rounded, secular, history based complete curriculum designed for children ages 6-10 years old. Together you and your child will learn about the European colonization of North America, the establishment of the 13 colonies, the Revolutionary War, and the writing of the Constitution. All with great hands-on go-along activities, engaging picture books, and thoughtful discussion topics that go beyond the story. Every lesson starts with a wonderful picture book and includes a wide range of go-along activities built on the topics in the book.

You’ll learn about Prairie Dogs with Lewis and Clark, make George Washington’s breakfast of Hoecakes and tea, read poetry by the first African-American woman poet to be published in North America, explore the science of ocean currents, and even learn a little French. You’ll watch videos, play games, and create art to bring alive lessons in a way children enjoy. The lessons include activities to learn language arts, math, and life skills, along with our history and geography. Each lesson includes a copy work passage relevant to the lesson topic. This program is designed to teach your child as a whole person and to include educational activities in a variety of ways to be the most engaging, well-rounded lessons possible.

The program includes:

  • The teacher’s guide with over 100 pages of instruction and lesson plans.
  • The Student Workbook with over 75 pages of maps, copy work pages, and activities.
  • A United States Wall map you can print and assemble.
  • Online resources including additional maps and timeline graphics.
  • A complete playlist of videos and website resources.
  • The full book list with links to purchase the books from Amazon, Thriftbooks, and local book stores.
  • Supply list and recommendations.

This program is made up of three downloadable PDF documents.

$49.95

Want to try it out first?

Sometimes you just need to give things a try before deciding. We understand and that’s why we have a sample lesson available for download.

This program contains 18 lesson topics with over 150 activities spanning a full range of subject areas. The program is designed to be completed in a semester. Each lesson should take between one to two weeks with you and your child completing two or three of the suggested activities each day. Some of the topics covered in the American History – Colonization and the Creation of a Country program include:

Language Arts

    • Writing exercises
    • Copy work
    • Types of writing: tall tales, poems, newspaper articles
    • Evolution of language
    • Compare and contrast
    • How to research a topic

Science and Math

    • Ocean currents
    • Electricity
    • Animals of North America
    • Calculating tax and percents
    • Measurement
    • Reading graphs
    • Botany

Art and Life Skills

    • Art appreciation
    • Drawing and painting
    • Crafts
    • Cooking and baking
    • Social skills
    • Handwork
    • Music and dance

Social Studies

    • United States Geography
    • World Geography
    • History
    • Government
    • Historical clothing
    • Historical perspective
    • Social Justice

Learning Through Literature

Each lesson starts with a beautiful picture book. By looking at the pictures in the story, your child can imagine themselves there in the story. The act of not only hearing the story but also seeing it, engages both the sense of hearing and vision, bringing the story to life.

The stories included in American History – Colonization and the Creation of a Country are beautifully illustrated and include vibrant and descriptive language. Books alternate between detailed histories showing the long arc of the American story, and engaging biographies, focusing on a single person in a moment of time. This alternating approach lets your child see the big picture while learning how the events they are learning about impacted real people.

All children benefit from learning from picture books because the pictures help them to understand the story more fully. Books that take place in a place or culture the child is unfamiliar with can convey more information through pictures. Incorporating hands-on activities that tie into the story helps your child relate to the characters and the narrative on a deeper level. Recipes, videos, songs and rhymes all help bring the lessons alive..

Because every lesson is actually a small unit study, you can take the pressure off both you and your child to “get through” a certain number of subjects in a day. You will be exploring different subjects as they relate to the history lesson and the books you are reading, in a natural way, following your child’s interest and discovering new passions. Your child will be learning without feeling like they are being taught. It is almost magical!

Written by an Occupational Therapist for All Children

Children learn best when all of their senses are engaged, and the topics are presented in a way that respects childhood development. Too many curricula for children skip over the importance of play and exploration, moving straight into reading, writing, and math. Subjects are often taught in a way that isolates them from other ideas making them feel more foreign and complicated than they need to be.

As an occupational therapist, I have a unique perspective on childhood development. Children use games and play to explore their world naturally. By using play and fun activities, you can tap into their natural curiosity and feed their minds while helping them develop the physical skills needed for success in academics and life.

Five Senses Literature Lessons is designed to be used with any child, regardless of where the child stands concerning academic readiness. Such flexibility is possible because the curriculum is developmentally appropriate and respects the child. It is adaptable and expandable to suit your child’s interest and pursue growth in your child’s abilities in a gentle and fun way.

Lessons include notes on how to adapt the program to work for children with learning challenges, dyslexia, dysgraphia, ASD, ADHD, and more. Not only can this program work for your child, but it is made to be easy to adapt for them! The hands-on activities are designed specifically to promote both more in-depth learning and understanding and to help develop fine motor skills.

The program is designed to be easy to follow and easy to use. Each lesson has a simple supply list right at the top of the lesson, so you know what you need for the week. And there are no fancy or specialty supplies needed. You can get everything you need from your local big box store.

 

Book List

The Discovery of the Americas

by Betsy Maestro and Giulio Maestro

You Wouldn't Want to Sail With Christopher Columbus!

by Fiona Macdonald, illustrated by David Antram

Life of the Powhatan

by Rebecca Sjonger and Bobbie Kalman

Pocahontas: An American Princess

by Joyce Milton, illustrated by Shelly Hehenberger

Samuel Eaton's Day

A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy
by Kate Waters, photographs by Russ Kendall

Tapenum's Day

A Wampanoag Indian Boy in Pilgrim Times
by Kate Waters, photographs by Russ Kendall

Sarah Morton's Day

A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl
by Kate Waters, photographs by Russ Kendall

Clambake

A Wampanoag Tradition
by Russell M. Peters, photographs by John Madama

Pilgrim Cat

by Carol Antoinette Peacock, illustrated by Doris Ettlinger

The New Americans

Colonial Times: 1620-1689
by Betsy Maestro and Giulio Maestro

Struggle for a Continent

The French and Indian Wars: 1689-1763

by Betsy Maestro and Giulio Maestro

Electric Ben

The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin

by Robert Byrd

A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin

by David A. Adler, illustrated by John Wallner and Alexandra Wallner

Now & Ben

The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin
by Gene Barretta

The Boston Tea Party

by Russell Freedman, illustrated by Peter Malone

Phillis Sings Out Freedom

The Story of George Washington and Phillis Wheatley

by Ann Malaspina, illustrated by Susan Keeter

Phillis Wheatley

by Emily R. Smith

The Ride

The Legend of Betsy Dowdy

by Kitty Griffin, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman

Sybil Ludington's Midnight Ride

by Marsha Amstel, illustrations by Ellen Beier

Paul Revere's Ride

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, illustrated by Charles Santore

They Called Her Molly Pitcher

by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Cynthia von Buhler

Liberty or Death

The American Revolution: 1763-1783

by Betsy Maestro and Giulio Maestro

A More Perfect Union

The Story of Our Constitution

by Betsy Maestro and Giulio Maestro

Shh! We're Writing the Constitution

by Jean Fritz, illustrated by Tomie dePaola

George Washington's Breakfast

by Jean Fritz, illustrated by Tomie dePaola

A Picture Book of George Washington

by David A. Adler, illustrated by John Wallner and Alexandra Wallner

The Escape of Oney Judge

Martha Washington’s Slave Finds Freedom

by Emily Arnold McCully

A Picture Book of John and Abigail Adams

by David A Adler and Michael S. Adler, illustrated by Ronald Himler

Sacagawea

by Liselotte Erdrich, artwork by Julie Buffalohead

Lewis and Clark

A Prairie Dog for the President

by Shirley Raye Redmond, illustrated by John Manders

Laura Secord's Brave Walk

by Connie Brummel Crook, illustrated by June Lawrason

The Town that Fooled the British

A War of 1812 Story

by Lisa Papp, illustrated by Robert Papp

Johnny Appleseed

A tall tale retold and illustrated by Steven Kellogg

Freedom in Congo Square

by Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie

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