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
Come Look With Me: Art in Early America
You Wouldn't Want to Sail With Christopher Columbus!
Life of the Powhatan
Pocahontas: An American Princess
Samuel Eaton's Day
A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy
Tapenum's Day
A Wampanoag Indian Boy in Pilgrim Times
Sarah Morton's Day
A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl
Clambake
A Wampanoag Tradition
Pilgrim Cat
The New Americans
Colonial Times: 1620-1689
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
Phillis Sings Out Freedom
The Story of George Washington and Phillis Wheatley
by Ann Malaspina, illustrated by Susan Keeter
Phillis Wheatley
The Ride
The Legend of Betsy Dowdy
by Kitty Griffin, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
Sybil Ludington's Midnight Ride
Paul Revere's Ride
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
George Washington's Breakfast
A Picture Book of George Washington
The Escape of Oney Judge
Martha Washington’s Slave Finds Freedom
by Emily Arnold McCully
A Picture Book of John and Abigail Adams
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
The Town that Fooled the British
A War of 1812 Story
by Lisa Papp, illustrated by Robert Papp
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