Just to make my life easier (and yours too, probably), I’ve collected all the books we will/ have read per time period. This is perfect for those who are homeschooling according to the classical method (we use Catholic Schoolhouse) or want to supplement when learning certain time periods.
We found many of these books through our local library but if you decide to purchase them I hope you will use the Amazon affiliate links listed below to support my work (at no extra cost to you)! All of these are books my kids and I have read and recommend. I hope you enjoy this reading list!
This reading list includes:
- Magic School Bus books
- Dear America Series
- Magic Treehouse Series
- American Girl books
- My Name Is series
- Landmark Series
- My America Series American Stories Series
- Childhood of Famous Americans series
- and recommendations from The Well-Trained Mind
Many of these links are affiliate links which help to support this blog, at no cost to you.
NOTE: Bookmark/ Pin this page to use again in the future! I will be updating it regularly!
Work on Throughout the Year
First of all, I preview the Blog Post Directory at Catholicschoolhouse.com for crafts and lesson ideas. Our family always does the saint activity packet and usually 1 or 2 other activities for the list. It’s just so much good stuff! Want to learn more about Catholic Schoolhouse? Join the Facebook Group here.
The Story of Civilization Volume 4: the audiobook is great for kids to listen to while working on related crafts. Here is how The Story of Civilization Volume 4 cd lines up with Catholic Schoolhouse Weeks.
Liberty Kids videos: We love these videos and they help visual learners to better understand American history! (Check out if your local library has them or if you have access to Hoopla, you may find it there!)
American Geography:
- Stack the States (1 & 2) app
- The Scrambled States of America
- Draw the USA
- you might be able to find a USA puzzle at your local Dollar Tree like I did! (or this is a good alternative)
- We are also using this video:
I also want my kids to know the names of all the presidents so they listen to the above video and this video several times per week:
This post is broken down by week according to the Catholic Schoolhouse curriculum but if you don’t use this curriculum you can still follow along… it’s all chronological and only relating to U.S. History!
Get More Tips & Tricks directly to your inbox!
Week 1
Native Americans
Explore Native American Cultures!
Draw Write Now Book 3: Native Americans, North America, Pilgrims
The Usborne Book of Living Long Ago: Everyday Life through the Ages (ask around and order it through an Usborne rep instead of Amazon because it’s way overpriced there)
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha: The Lily of the Mohawks
Weetamoo: Heart of the Pocassets
Indian Tribes of North America Coloring Book
A Kid’s Guide to Native American History and Activities
Pocahontas: Heroes of American History
Explorers
Draw Write Now Book 2: Christopher Columbus, Autumn Harvest, Weather
I Wonder Why Columbus Crossed the Ocean and Other Questions About Explorers
Meet Christopher Columbus: part of the acclaimed Landmark book series
Around the World in a Hundred Years: From Henry the Navigator to Magellan
Where do you think you’re going, Christopher Columbus?
Exploration of North America Coloring Book
Who in the world was the forgotten explorer?
Zoology
Several zoos have live web cams if you’re not able to get to a zoo on your own. Here is the San Diego Zoo!
Study the animal’s habitat with this game from Smithsonian
The library is full of animal books. I stick to the nonfiction section and let kids choose what animals they’re interested in learning about. We covered porpoises this week!
Who would win? book series
Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life
Food Chain Frenzy Magic School Bus
Music
Sebastian Bach, The Boy from Thuringia
Week 2
Continue reading the Explorers Books from Week 1 plus..
Explorers of the New World: Discover the Golden Age of Exploration
Life in America’s First Cities
Zoology
Watch some videos from Meigs Point Nature Center or try to catch some frogs at a pond!
Nouns
Week 3
Pilgrims & First Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving on Thursday: part of the Magic Tree House Series with fact tracker book Pilgrims
The Landing of the Pilgrims: part of the Landmark book series
Samuel Eaton’s Day: A Day in the Life of A Pilgrim Boy
A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple
Sarah Morton’s Day: A Day in the Life of A Pilgrim Girl
You Wouldn’t Want to Sail on the Mayflower!
Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims
Zoology
Check out this tour of the Smithsonian Museum Ocean exhibit: https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/vt3/NMNH/z_tour-076.html
Watch Disney’s Oceans on Netflix
The Great Shark Escape Magic School Bus
Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the Sea
Sea Creatures A Nonfiction Companion to the Original Magic School Bus Series
Get a pet fish 😉
Week 4
Early Colonies
You wouldn’t want to be an American Colonist!
Early American Trades Coloring Book or Life in Colonial America Coloring Book
The Story of the Thirteen Colonies
Pioneer Days: Discover the past with fun projects, games, activities, and recipes
Abigail Adams: Girl of Colonial Days (Childhood of Famous Americans)
Visit Colonial Williamsburg and take a virtual field trip!
Benjamin Franklin
Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia: part of the Landmark book series
John, Paul, George & Ben
Ben Franklin in Old Philadelphia
Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin
The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin
The Remarkable Benjamin Franklin
French & Indian War
Struggle for a Continent: The French and Indian Wars
Look to the Hills: The Diary of Lozette Moreau, a French Slave Girl
The Last of the Mohicans (Classic Starts)
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone: Young Hunter and Tracker (Childhood of Famous Americans)
The Trailblazing Life of Daniel Boone And How Early Americans Took to the Road
Zoology
Penguin Puzzle The Magic School Bus
How to draw birds by John Muir Laws
Art
Pronouns
Week 5
California Missions
Boston Tea Party
You Wouldn’t want to be at the Boston Tea Party!
What Was the Boston Tea Party?
Watch Liberty Kids videos (available on hoopla and through your library)
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence: The Words that made America
Understanding the Declaration of Independence
What Is the Declaration of Independence?
Revolutionary War
Take a quiz on what Revolutionary historical person you’re most like
Amerian Revolution history museum tour
The American Revolution: part of the Landmark book series
Revolutionary War on Wednesday Magic Treehouse book with Fact Tracker American Revolution
The Story of the American Revolution Coloring Book
The Secret Soldier, story of Debra Sampson
If you lived at the time of the American Revolution
Paul Revere, Patriot, Heroes of American History
A Picture Book of Patrick Henry
Where was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May?
The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart
Love Thy Neighbor: The Tory Diary of Prudence Emerson
Zoology
The Magic School Bus Presents Insects
The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive
Verbs
Week 6
George Washington
Draw Write Now Book 5: United States, From Sea to Sea, Moving Forward
Meet George Washington: part of the Landmark book series
History’s All Stars: Betsy Ross
Constitution
A More Perfect Union: The Story of our Constitution
Zoology
Other Books to Read During this Time Period
The Story of the Great Republic
A Picture Book of John and Abigail Adams
Those Rebels, John & Tom
What’s the Big Deal About First Ladies?
Liberty Bell Virtual Tour
Standing in the Light: The Captive Diary of Catharine Carey Logan, Delaware Valley
Little House on the Prarie Series
Betsy Ross and the Silver Thimble
Sitting Bull: Dakota Boy
Sacagawea: American Pathfinder
Paul Revere: Boston Patriot
Molly Pitcher: True Patriot
Women Explorers, Book Perils, Pistols, and Petticoats
Just to make my life easier (and yours too, probably), I’ve collected all the books we will/ have read per time period. This is perfect for those who are homeschooling according to the classical method (we use Catholic Schoolhouse) or want to supplement when learning certain time periods.
We found many of these books through our local library but if you decide to purchase them I hope you will use the Amazon affiliate links listed below to support my work (at no extra cost to you)! All of these are books my kids and I have read and recommend. I hope you enjoy this reading list!
This reading list includes:
- Magic School Bus books
- Dear America Series
- Magic Treehouse Series
- American Girl books
- My Name Is series
- Landmark Series
- My America Series American Stories Series
- Childhood of Famous Americans series
- and recommendations from The Well-Trained Mind
Many of these links are affiliate links which help to support this blog, at no cost to you.
NOTE: Bookmark/ Pin this page to use again in the future! I will be updating it regularly!
Work on Throughout the Year
First of all, I preview the Blog Post Directory at Catholicschoolhouse.com for crafts and lesson ideas. Our family always does the saint activity packet and usually 1 or 2 other activities for the list. It’s just so much good stuff! Want to learn more about Catholic Schoolhouse? Join the Facebook Group here.
The Story of Civilization Volume 4: the audiobook is great for kids to listen to while working on related crafts. Here is how The Story of Civilization Volume 4 cd lines up with Catholic Schoolhouse Weeks.
Liberty Kids videos: We love these videos and they help visual learners to better understand American history! (Check out if your local library has them or if you have access to Hoopla, you may find it there!)
American Geography:
- Stack the States (1 & 2) app
- The Scrambled States of America
- Draw the USA
- you might be able to find a USA puzzle at your local Dollar Tree like I did! (or this is a good alternative)
- We are also using this video:
I also want my kids to know the names of all the presidents so they listen to the above video and this video several times per week:
This post is broken down by week according to the Catholic Schoolhouse curriculum but if you don’t use this curriculum you can still follow along… it’s all chronological and only relating to U.S. History!
Get More Tips & Tricks directly to your inbox!
Week 1
Native Americans
Explore Native American Cultures!
Draw Write Now Book 3: Native Americans, North America, Pilgrims
The Usborne Book of Living Long Ago: Everyday Life through the Ages (ask around and order it through an Usborne rep instead of Amazon because it’s way overpriced there)
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha: The Lily of the Mohawks
Weetamoo: Heart of the Pocassets
Indian Tribes of North America Coloring Book
A Kid’s Guide to Native American History and Activities
Pocahontas: Heroes of American History
Explorers
Draw Write Now Book 2: Christopher Columbus, Autumn Harvest, Weather
I Wonder Why Columbus Crossed the Ocean and Other Questions About Explorers
Meet Christopher Columbus: part of the acclaimed Landmark book series
Around the World in a Hundred Years: From Henry the Navigator to Magellan
Where do you think you’re going, Christopher Columbus?
Exploration of North America Coloring Book
Who in the world was the forgotten explorer?
Zoology
Several zoos have live web cams if you’re not able to get to a zoo on your own. Here is the San Diego Zoo!
Study the animal’s habitat with this game from Smithsonian
The library is full of animal books. I stick to the nonfiction section and let kids choose what animals they’re interested in learning about. We covered porpoises this week!
Who would win? book series
Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life
Food Chain Frenzy Magic School Bus
Music
Sebastian Bach, The Boy from Thuringia
Week 2
Continue reading the Explorers Books from Week 1 plus..
Explorers of the New World: Discover the Golden Age of Exploration
Life in America’s First Cities
Zoology
Watch some videos from Meigs Point Nature Center or try to catch some frogs at a pond!
Nouns
Week 3
Pilgrims & First Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving on Thursday: part of the Magic Tree House Series with fact tracker book Pilgrims
The Landing of the Pilgrims: part of the Landmark book series
Samuel Eaton’s Day: A Day in the Life of A Pilgrim Boy
A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple
Sarah Morton’s Day: A Day in the Life of A Pilgrim Girl
You Wouldn’t Want to Sail on the Mayflower!
Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims
Zoology
Check out this tour of the Smithsonian Museum Ocean exhibit: https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/vt3/NMNH/z_tour-076.html
Watch Disney’s Oceans on Netflix
The Great Shark Escape Magic School Bus
Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the Sea
Sea Creatures A Nonfiction Companion to the Original Magic School Bus Series
Get a pet fish 😉
Week 4
Early Colonies
You wouldn’t want to be an American Colonist!
Early American Trades Coloring Book or Life in Colonial America Coloring Book
The Story of the Thirteen Colonies
Pioneer Days: Discover the past with fun projects, games, activities, and recipes
Abigail Adams: Girl of Colonial Days (Childhood of Famous Americans)
Visit Colonial Williamsburg and take a virtual field trip!
Benjamin Franklin
Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia: part of the Landmark book series
John, Paul, George & Ben
Ben Franklin in Old Philadelphia
Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin
The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin
The Remarkable Benjamin Franklin
French & Indian War
Struggle for a Continent: The French and Indian Wars
Look to the Hills: The Diary of Lozette Moreau, a French Slave Girl
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone: Young Hunter and Tracker (Childhood of Famous Americans)
The Trailblazing Life of Daniel Boone And How Early Americans Took to the Road
Zoology
Penguin Puzzle The Magic School Bus
How to draw birds by John Muir Laws
Art
Pronouns
Week 5
California Missions
Boston Tea Party
You Wouldn’t want to be at the Boston Tea Party!
What Was the Boston Tea Party?
Watch Liberty Kids videos (available on hoopla and through your library)
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence: The Words that made America
Understanding the Declaration of Independence
What Is the Declaration of Independence?
Revolutionary War
Take a quiz on what Revolutionary historical person you’re most like
Amerian Revolution history museum tour
The American Revolution: part of the Landmark book series
Revolutionary War on Wednesday Magic Treehouse book with Fact Tracker American Revolution
The Story of the American Revolution Coloring Book
The Secret Soldier, story of Debra Sampson
If you lived at the time of the American Revolution
Paul Revere, Patriot, Heroes of American History
A Picture Book of Patrick Henry
Where was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May?
The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart
Love Thy Neighbor: The Tory Diary of Prudence Emerson
Zoology
The Magic School Bus Presents Insects
The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive
Verbs
Week 6
George Washington
Draw Write Now Book 5: United States, From Sea to Sea, Moving Forward
Meet George Washington: part of the Landmark book series
History’s All Stars: Betsy Ross
Constitution
A More Perfect Union: The Story of our Constitution
Zoology
Other Books to Read During this Time Period
The Story of the Great Republic
A Picture Book of John and Abigail Adams
Those Rebels, John & Tom
What’s the Big Deal About First Ladies?
Liberty Bell Virtual Tour
Standing in the Light: The Captive Diary of Catharine Carey Logan, Delaware Valley
Little House on the Prarie Series
Betsy Ross and the Silver Thimble
Sitting Bull: Dakota Boy
Sacagawea: American Pathfinder
Paul Revere: Boston Patriot
Molly Pitcher: True Patriot
Women Explorers, Book Perils, Pistols, and Petticoats
oh wow. This is lovely. <3 Thanks for the aid. I always think I should get something nice and organized somewhere, but man, you are amazing.
Haha! Thank you! I want to make sure my kids down the line get the same education that my older kids are… this is the perfect way for me to organize everything!