Course Sample

American History in Picture Books
By Cindi Allison

Unit 1 – Discovery and Exploration

I started this study with four of my six boys the year after we brought our 16-year-old home from Ukraine. I wanted to introduce American History in a way that would be easier for him to understand, but it has also been a fun way to teach history to my other children, ages 11, 8, and 6.

Who Was First? Discovering the Americas
By Russell Freedman

This book provides an overview of different groups and civilizations that came to America, but it is probably better for upper elementary and older. Some of the vocabulary is a little difficult for younger students. Also, it is written from a secular perspective, with references to carbon dating and events that occurred 20,000 to 30,000 years ago. We used chapters 1-4 and skimmed through some sections, reading a chapter each day.

Chapter 1

1. Find the definitions to these words:

2. Why did the crew become restless and fearful? How would you feel in a similar situation?
3. Plan a menu based on the food eaten aboard ship. (www.christopher-columbus.eu/food.htm)
4. List the voyages of Columbus, including year and number of ships and sailors.
5. Plot the first voyage of Columbus on a world map or globe.
6. How did greed contribute to the trouble on Hispaniola?
7. What Taino words do we use today?

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