Recommendations for US history for an 8th grader

[Krista in LA]

I'm thinking about doing US history next year with an 8th grader and am just wondering if anyone has something they like or can recommend. She's a bright one, so I could even do something at a lower high school level. I have a few of the History of US books that I'm considering if I don't find anything else I like.

So what has anyone used for US history?

[Sue G in PA]

she would have gotten MUCH more out of it if she were older. I think 8th is perfect for Hakim's material. I really enjoyed reading her books (and I never liked History). My only wish is that she presented from a Christian point of view but we just edited (esp. the beginning chapters of book 1).

[JFS in IL]

I was using Biblioplan, which was heavy on Hakim, with additional readings from an out-of-date book they sold for about $15 on a computer cd. but it was mostly Hakim,

[Karin]

We're using All American History, which is for 5-8 grades, I believe. It might be a bit on the easy side in your case, but I wanted both my dd's to use the same course to make it easier, although they're not in the same place. My 12 yo is much further along, but my 9 yo didn't like it until she finished SOTW 2 (she loves SOTW, but that's too young and not US history, lol). Since this is the only program we've tried, and I'm a dual citizen who studied Canadian history, I haven't anything to compare this with. My dd who loves history does as much supplemental reading as she can, but my 12 yo does it because she has to so does less extra with it.

[Laura in VA]

My son did this in 8th grade, and I'm planning on my daughter using it when she is in 8th as well. They use the Hakim books as a spine, but the Instructor's Guide has terrific notes on the books (regarding bias, etc.). I learned a lot from this core myself, and I'm looking forward to doing it again. HTH-

[ArwenA]

My kids aren't in 8th and we aren't American so I really don't know all the options but I agree with those that recommended Hakim. She is SUPER!!

[Kareni]

If you do decide to go the Joy Hakim History of US route, you might be interested to learn that Hewitt puts out a Junior high level syllabus for the series. It is reasonably priced.

Regards,
Kareni

[mcconnellboys]

I agree that we leaned heavily on Hakim and Albert Marrin's many bios for modern history with a US emphasis.

I also happen to own a copy of a high school text called The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society, by Nash and Jeffrey. I think that several folks on the high school boards have mentioned using this book or another by these authors for American History, so I think it's at least an okay text on the subject. You can probably pick it up at places like Half.com very inexpensively. I think my Mom found mine at a yard sale. I didn't end up needing to use it, because my older son went back to high school, but I still use it for reference, etc.

Regena

[Krista in LA]

I'm going to check them out.

Thanks.