Teaching American history living books brings the past to life in a way that dry textbooks never can.
Also, you’ll love my free Native American Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning.
Rather than memorizing dates and facts, children encounter real people, gripping stories, and moral dilemmas.
By grounding your American history studies in living books, your homeschool will foster curiosity, empathy, and a lasting love of history.
Whether you choose to go in chronological order or follow your child’s interests, these titles can anchor your year in story-rich exploration.
Below I’m guiding you through the major periods of American history with recommended living books for each.
Many of these books are perfect for reading aloud or independent reading in upper elementary through high school.
Then I’m sharing a mini woven basket craft that you can make with just a few supplies as a nod to the Penobscot Indians. They were in the region where The Sign of The Beaver was set in Maine
5 PENOBSCOT INDIANS FACTS
- Penobscot comes from Panawahpskek, which means “the place where the rocks open out.” This was the name of an important Penobscot village.
- Historically, Penobscot men were the ones that hunted and waged war, while women farmed, cooked, and cared for children. Both genders took part in storytelling, art, music, and traditional medicine. While chiefs were traditionally male, in modern tribes, women can now also be chief.
- The Penobscot people sustained themselves by fishing in the Penobscot River, hunting deer and moose, cultivating corn and beans, gathering berries, and producing maple syrup from tree sap.
- The Penobscot were part of the Wabanaki Confederacy, which was formed to protect against attack by the Iroquois, and also included the Algonquian peoples the Abenaki, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, and Passamaquoddy.
- They lived in cone-shaped huts, and teepees which they moved to different locations during the different seasons.
A favorite resource of mine for gathering wonderful living books is Beautiful Feet Books, from gorgeous picture books to riveting chapter books.
AMERICAN HISTORY LIVING BOOKS
Pre-Colonial and Native American Cultures (before 1492)
- The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich
- Children of the Longhouse by Joseph Bruchac
- If You Lived With the Iroquois by Ellen Levine
- Pocahontas by Ingri D’ulaire
Age of Exploration and Colonization (1492–1763)
- Pocahontas and the Strangers by Clyde Robert Bulla
- Blood on the River: James Town 1607 by Elisa Carbone
- The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
- The Sign of The Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
American Revolution (1763–1789)
- Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
- George Washington’s World by Genevieve Foster
- Phoebe the Spy by Judith Griffin
The Early Republic and Westward Expansion (1789–1850)
- Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
- Bound for Oregon by Jean Van Leeuwen
- Daniel Boone: The Opening of the Wilderness by John Mason Brown
Civil War Era (1850–1877)
- Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
- Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman by Dorothy Sterling
- Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco
Reconstruction and the Gilded Age (1877–1900)
Progressive Era and World War I (1900–1920)
- The War to End All Wars: World War I by Russell Freedman
- Lyddie by Katherine Paterson
- The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane by Russell Freedman
The Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression (1920–1939)
- Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
- Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
- Bright April by Marguerite de Angeli
- Sweet Home Alaska
World War II (1939–1945)
Post-War America and the Cold War (1945–1980s)
Modern America (1990s–Present)
In addition to beautiful American history living books, hands-on activities turn a simple book into a study whether it’s a mini unit or you decide to dig deeper.
MORE AMERICAN HISTORY RESOURCES
- Explore The Best American History Gifts For Kids And Educators
- How to Create a Creditworthy American History Course (& resources)
- How to Make American History Silhouette Puzzles With Kids
- Free American History Lapbook The Old West Through the Life of Wyatt Earp
- American History Game Fun U.S. President Go Fish Unit Study
- 18 American History Board Games Which Brings History to Life
- How to Teach With an Easy DIY American History Timeline
- 4 Shortcuts to Teach Hands-on American History in Half the Time
One thing the Penobscot Indians were known for was their basket weaving.
The baskets were functional but they also used different colored materials like barks and glasses that created beautiful patterns.
PAPER BAG BASKET WEAVING
Of course, I thought a simple basket weaving craft would be perfect to go along with this book and not only make a cute craft but work on fine motor skills at the same time.
You will need:
- 3 brown paper bags
- Scissors
- Glue stick
Cut the top half the bag off, fold it over in half and press a firm crease all the way around.
Continue folding and creasing until the width is roughly 1”.
Cut one of the loops.
Glue between each layer, this gives you a sturdy handle for the basket, set aside for now.
Open up the second bag and cut 1” strips from the top to just the bottom edge of the bag.
Lay the bottom of the bag flat and spread out the strips.
Glue the handle inside the bag.
The final step before weaving is to take the third bag and cut 1” strips from it, you will want at least 8.
When opened they are one big loop, cut on just one end to make a long strip.
Begin weaving your basket by going over and under each of the cut strips of the main bag, raising the sides as you go, secure with glue at the start and end.
Start your next strip in a different corner each time to make it sturdier.
Repeat these 3 to 4 times around the basket.
Cut the strips so they are 1” above where you stop, fold each one over whatever side it ends on and glue it in place to finish the edge of the basket.
Allow it to dry.
While your basket won’t hold too much weight you can put a few light things in it like flowers or leaves.
