Update - American History

I didn't get as far on my "Plan" as I hoped this summer but I did make progress. The "Plan" was to complete my American History Curricula the "The Mighty Works of God: Self Government  A Child's History of the United States of America" by the end of summer.  However,  I did get about half way.

This curricula continues to be a challenge to me because it requires so much prep-work, but the fruits I see in the boys' retention of what they have learned keeps me plugging along.  We are currently half way through Chapter 12:  Columbus.  Its taking a little while longer because i have chosen to interweave some other resources into the study.  I've incorporated portions of a Unit Study for the book "Pedro's Journal" (some bible, vocabulary, some social studies). I expanded the science section a bit by adding the two books suggested by the Helena:  

Dragons of the Deep: Ocean Monsters Past and Present  

The Ocean Book [With 24" Pull-Out Color Poster] (Wonders of Creation)

My oldest is constantly reading the Dragons of the Deep book.  My new plan is to complete the curricula by the end of the school year.  I have made the executive decision not to try and cover ALL of American History in one year.  We'll have the quick glances with the CC Memory work but I'm only going to go deep through the Pioneer Period.

Here's some of the other resources I plan to use to expand our curricula this year.

My husband is currently reading an awesome piece of Historical Fiction to the boys at night called "The Minute Boys of Lexington" by Edward Stratemeyer.  Of course, it's leading to discussions of the battles and I found these two cool historical maps to facilitate those discussions:
"Map 1" and "Map 2".

I stumbled on the idea of one book, many stories; with William Bennett's "Children's Treasury of Virtues".  At a used curriculum sale, I found two more such books to add to our American History reading. 

"The Light and the Glory" by David Manuel is definitely a different take into history.  It does approach history, like my curricula, from a providential stand point.  However, it goes a lot deeper into Columbus' other voyages and his human failures.  I've had some reservations but I think the overall message is good.  God can use anyone to accomplish his purposes and even "good Christians" can fall far when they start to collect their treasures on earth.  I plan to read these chapters out loud as we finish the corresponding chapters in our curricula

This is an activity book that goes along with the above for younger children.  I have used it to add hands on activities for the boys in our daily studies.

The other book I picked up is "History Stories for Children" by Dr. John W. Wayland.  This is definitely for the younger crowd, ie. K-2.  It has of 62 short reads, 25 of which apply to early American History.  

Here's an incredible animated timeline of  US. History Timeline .  It shows the development of our country, state by state, major milestones in history, Indian tribe movement and so much more.  (Note click "Play" at the top, not "Go" at the bottom)

http://www.animatedatlas.com/movie.html

Then just for fun we may try to build the "Santa Maria" out of paper for free: http://www.papertoys.com/santamaria.htm   Here's a picture of the finished product: (toward the middle of the article by Brandy at Half a Hundred Acre Wood) Santa Maria and other Paper Projects