History help please.

[hsmom]

Next year we are going to be covering U.S. history/American history. I am looking for something that goes with the approach of the people themselves that where in that time. I don't want to stress so much on dates like a typical textbook. I want ds to get "involved" in the history and be able to relate in ways to how there lives were.
I hope that made some sense.
Do you know of a program, books, or anything that would go good for something like this?

I do have these books to start with right now (i put in links to show what books they were in case you were not familiar with them):

Don't know much about American History
http://rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?sid=1205359281-114792&id=025010

Have fun with American Heroes
http://rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?sid=1205359281-114792&id=018301

American History stories you never read in school..but should have volumes 1 & 2
http://rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?sid=1205359281-114792&id=027322
http://rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?sid=1205359281-114792&id=027323


Thank You for any help.

[Alphabetika]

When my older daughter gets to that stage in history, I plan to use primary sources, especially books of letter and other writings by people from the time we're studying. This way she gets to read the actual words of people who lived through events, wrote about them, had opinions about them that were consistent with the time period rather than having the overlay of the ensuing years of bias. For instance, reading John Adams' letters to his wife, Abigail, gives you a great picture of the man he was, the women she was and the couple they were, and gives you firsthand reporting on the Continental Congress meetings and many other things.

HTH!

[Carol in Cal.]

"George Washington's World" was great.

[Lori D.]

No help with information or a review on the materials you specifically asked about, BUT -- to help you really capture the "feel" of the times and the thoughts/attitudes of the people, we found the following *really* enhanced our study of U.S. history:
- historical fiction
- films set in various historical time periods
- documentaries

Paula's Archives website has some great lists of books and movies to supplement your history studies, divided into time frames. Here are the specific webpages:

- Historical Fiction to Supplement History: http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/history.htm
- Movies for History: http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/movies.htm

Also, Sonlight Curriculum for grades 3 and 4, and level 100 have some great historical fiction to go along with U.S. History: www.sonlight.com.


Finally, very expensive (so see if you can buy these used!) but "Jackdaws" (also available new at Rainbow Resource) are units, each on a specific historical event, with original source documents and writings from people of the time.

Enjoy your history journey -- it sounds great! Warmest regards, Lori D.

[hsmom]

Thank you. I will check into those.

[SS in MD]

Primary resources you're talking about sound great. Where do you plan to find these?

Thanks for clarifying!