The Ultimate List of American Study Resources for Middle School
Plus a Bonus American Study FREE Download
Have you ever thought about how the time span between Memorial Day and Independence Day is a great time period to do an American Unit Study? There are so many directions you can go with such a study. It could be governmental based, military based, geographical, historical, great men of America, great women of America, pivotal moments in America, like I said, so many directions.
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That’s why I wanted to put together a Unit study this year as a review for my son. We simply aren’t quite complete with our required hours due to the family crisis we’ve been dealing with over the last 5 moths, we will need to work through June. At the same time, we’ve reached a good generalized stopping point for the curriculum we use, America the Beautiful, from Notgrass History. We’ll complete the second half next year.
As always we usually slow a historical study way down so he can dive in fully so I never expected to complete a year long curriculum in one year, we never do. But there isn’t any way we can complete it in one month either so we will do book 2 next year.
Still that leaves 4 weeks of study that needs to be completed to meet the hours that Ohio requires. So I’m planning to take time exploring America in a hands on way, using unit studies, field trips, lapbooks, or whatever interest directed path my son chooses. That’s why I’ve been pulling together a variety of resources for studying the United States of America.
While your here do me a favor. 1. Pin this post, because you can’t possibly remember all these links, and it will make for an easy reference for the futher. 2. Share with your homeschooling friends: It’s a big post and I’m sure they can benefit from some of the resources available. and last 3. Check back, this will be a growing list as I find new great things to study I’ll come back and add them here.
American History
Native American History
- Native American Book List – Harrington Harmonies
- Native American Unit Study – Our Journey Westward
- Plains Indians Lapbook & Unit Study – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus
American History Unit Studies & Lapbooks
- Colonial History Unit Study – Our Journey Westward
- Early American History Activities for Kids – Education Possible
- Erie Canal Unit Study – Mama’s Learning Corner
- Exploring American Pioneers Notebooking Unit – Education Possible
- Fourth of July Unit Study – Susan Evans Hand-On Learning
- Free 27 Week American History Study Through Lapbooking – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus
- Industrial Revolution: Child Labor Lessons – Our Journey Westward
- High School Modern American History Course: Charlotte Mason Style – Our Journey Westward
- Lewis & Clark Lapbook – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus
- Paul Revere Unit – Adventures in Mommydom
- Trail of Tears Lapbook – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus
- Underground Railroad simulation – Adventures in Mommydom
- Westward Expansion Unit Study – Our Journey Westward
- Westward Ho Unit Study & Lapbook – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus
History of American Immigration
- Free Jamestown Unit Study – Harrington Harmonies
- Ellis Island – History of Immigration to the United States (1890-1920)_ Award Winning Documentary
American Wars and Military
- American Revolution Book List – Harrington Harmonies
- American Revolution Lapbook – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus
- Battle of Fort Sumter – Adventures in Mommydom
- Battle of Gettysburg – Adventures in Mommydom
- Battle of the Alamo – Adventures in Mommydom
- First Battle of Bull Run – Adventures in Mommydom
- Free Copywork for American Revolution – Harrington Harmonies
- Korean War – Adventures in Mommydom
- Pearl Harbor – Adventures in Mommydom
- Slavery and Civil War Unit Study – Our Journey Westward
- Spanish American War – Adventures in Mommydom
- Spies in the American Revolution – Adventures in Mommydom
- The Alamo – Education Possible
- The Start of World War 2 – Adventures in Mommydom
- War Between the States – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus
- What caused World War 1? – Adventures in Mommydom
- What was it like in the trenches of World War 1? – Adventures in Mommydom
- How did United States end up in World War 1? – Adventures in Mommydom
- Valley Forge – Adventures in Mommydom
American Geography
- Eight for Each State – Ed Snapshots
- Fifty States Song on Video – YOUTUBE: KidsTV123
- Free State Notebooking Pages – Harrington Harmonies
- How All 50 States Got their Names – Today I Found Out: Feed Your Brain
- Know the States – Education.com
- Learn about the 50 States – Homeschooling on a Dime
- Printable Map of the United States from Mr. Printables
- US Geography Scrapbooking Pages for the States – Ed Snapshots
- Scrambled States – 3rd Grade Gridiron
- Tribal Nations Map – NPR
American Literature
- 10 Living Books for Teaching Early American History – Our Journey Westward
- Aunt Minnie and the Twister – Adventures in Mommydom
- Chronological American History in High School Using a Living Literature – Our Journey Westward
- Historical Fiction Series ~ Columbus – Starts at Eight
- Historical Fiction Series ~ The Titanic – Starts at Eight
- Reading Around the USA: 50 Books for Kids from 50 States – Milk & Cookies Blog
American Presidents
- Fun Resources to Learn About American Presidents – Starts at Eight
- Favorite Foods of the Presidents from Food Timeline
- Gilded Age Presidents – Adventures in Mommydom
- James Madison Did You Know? Video – History Channel
- Learning History with Disney Education The American Presidents DVDs – Education Possible
- Presidential Fun Facts – National Geographics, Kids
- Presidents Lapbook & Notebook Resources – Homeschool Share
- Presidents of the United States Unit Study – Our Journey Westward
- The American Presidents – Education Possible
- Young Abe Lincoln – Adventures in Mommydom
Fun American Facts & Interesting Ways to Learn
- 6 Pioneer Recipes to Make with Your Teen – Education Possible
- 100 Things to See and Do in Ohio – Ohio Homeschooling
- American Landmarks – How to Draw the Golden Gate Bridge – Hodgepodge
- Hands-on History: Early American Quilting – Education Possible
- Homeschool Field Trips – Curriculum Choice
- How to Make an Easy Ink Pot & Quill With Berry Ink – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool PlusI Pledge Allegiance Flag Craft – Mama Jenn
- Netflix List for Learning About US History – Yarns of the Heart
- Patriotic Art Integration – Art with Jenny K.
- President for a Day, How Does Government Affect Me? – PBS Learning
- Plimouth Plantation Virtual Field Trips – Scholastic
- RMS Titanic Lapbook – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus
- See America Project – Eva Varga
- The FBI Unit Study and Lapbook – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus
- Teaching 20th Century History With Star Trek – Milk & Cookies Blog
- Teaching 19th Century History With Star Trek – Milk & Cookies Blog
- Ultimate US Road Trip – Washington Post
- Using Videos to Teach Early American History – Education Possible
- Wings of Freedom Tour – Eva Varga
American Flag
- American Flag Chalk Art Tutorial – Hodgepodge
- Honoring Our Flag – Eva Varga
- I Pledge Allegiance Flag Craft – Mama Jenn
- Teaching Kids Life Skills: Flag Etiquette – Education Possible
Famous American People
- 5 Bold Black Freedom Fighters – Starts at Eight
- Alice Roosevelt – Adventures in Mommydom
- Ben Franklin: Inventions and Hands-on History – Education Possible
- Daniel Boone – Adventures in Mommydom
- Daniel Boone – North American Explorer – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus
- Davy Crockett – Adventures in Mommydom
- Discovering Neil Armstrong – Milk & Cookies Blog
- Field Trips in Central Ohio – Ohio Homeschooling
- Francis Scott Key – Mama’s Learning Corner
- Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglass and the Underground Railroad – Adventures in Mommydom
- Helen Keller – Adventures in Mommydom
- Henry Ford History Lesson – Starts at Eight
- John Deere – Adventures in Mommydom
- Neil Armstrong – Adventures in Mommydom
- Martin Luther King jr. – Adventures in Mommydom
- P.T. Barnum – Adventures in Mommydom
- Sam Houston – Adventures in Mommydom
- Tecumseh Field Trip – Ohio Homeschooling
National Resources for Learning about America
- America’s Library
- Kids USA
- National Archives
- National Parks Service
- The National Museum of American History – Smithsonian Institute
- The White House
- US Congress
- US Embassy
- US Federal Government
- US Senate
Free American Study Download
Mary Beth from Road Trip Teacher, has graciously offered YOU a FREE download of their A Patriot’s Guide to the 4th Of July! To receive your free download, simply click the image below. Be sure to stop over and visit with the folks at Road Trip Teacher, take a look at all of their great products and be sure to let them know that I sent you. You can also find them on these social media sites: Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube.
What do you think are the best ways to teach your children about the amazing America that we live in?
32 Comments
Rachel Q
I’ll start using it w/ 4 but eventually there will probably be 8 total.
Renee Aleshire Brown
8! Wow! You would definitely get a lot of use wouldn’t you? 🙂
Beth
We will be doing modern times this year including American history. I have prek, 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 8th.
Renee Aleshire Brown
That’s the great thing about a resource list with unit studies and ideas! Multiple ages can use it.
Jess McCarthy
Just one (my youngest), but my oldest would love the reference books too!
Renee Aleshire Brown
Yes! Those books are great for all ages!
Rebekah M
What a wonderful giveaway. Thank you for the chance to win. I have 4 children but twobthatbi would use fully with these books at the moment
Renee Aleshire Brown
Ah, I grew up in a family of 4 kids, lots of fun/noise/mess and love! Blessings to you.
Lori H
I have 3 girls and we love studying history. This amazing list of resources will come in handy across the years! Thanks for rounding up all of these links. – Lori
Lori H recently posted…Z is for … Zentangle
Renee Aleshire Brown
Hi Lori! I hope your 3 girls enjoy learning from these resources.
Lori H
We love studying history and these resources will come in handy across the years. There are three girls in our family that will get a lot of benefit from these links. Thank you for rounding them all up. – Lori H
Lori H recently posted…Z is for … Zentangle
Mary Beth Goff
Amazing list.. thank you!! Always looking for middle school resources. We, too, have had a detour in our homeschool year and planned on studies through July. This will be a perfect fit for Memorial Day through Fourth of July!
Renee Aleshire Brown
Thank you Mary Beth! I hope that you find this resource list to be of great benefit to your altered plans!
Juliana
Thank you for such an exhaustive list! And the opportunity for the giveaway.
Renee Aleshire Brown
You are welcome.
Lisa Dorsett
I will be using for my 2 oldest kids and add it to their summer curriculum.
Renee Aleshire Brown
So summer school for you too Lisa?
Anna L.
I have two kids, aged 13 and 11 years old. We traveled from CA to the East Coast last fall visiting historical sites like Williamsburg, Jamestown, Gettysburg, Fort McHenry and DC. These resources will be totally helpful. Thanks for organizing and sharing them.
Renee Aleshire Brown
Oh now that sounds like a truly fabulous trip! Color me jealous. Well, ok, I won’t be jealous because that would be wrong, I’ll just set here and be inspired instead.
Tanya
We would use these resources with our youngest son. The older two children have graduated.
Renee Aleshire Brown
Homeschooling just one can be both fun and different, can’t it?
Martha
I would use these resources with 2 children. We’re studying American History next year so this would be great.
Renee Aleshire Brown
Yes, It would round out a curriculum nicely!
Brook
I Have a 10 Year old with me right now and a child who is an adult who wants to move near home and go to college. They both have Hands on learning styles and I am a very visual learner. My youngest does not like to write even if its using her hands but loves to cut and paste and is starting to get better with tracing or filling in the blanks. History was something I had problems learning in my past till I had a teacher who made it like jeapordy in class. Then I realized you could learn history through books and I have warmed up to it even more. I like my daughter to be interested in it and not force fed it. we love unit lessons because we can study it and move on when it feels like it is getting boring or repeating and still feel like we were successful at accomplishing something.
Brook recently posted…Indian in the cupboard
Renee Aleshire Brown
Oh it sounds like you’ve found a key to learning for both yourself and your family! That is great.
Erica
Wow! What a wonderful resource page and an awesome giveaway!
Erica
What a great resource page and an awesome giveaway!
Renee Aleshire Brown
So glad you have enjoyed it. 🙂 Blessings!
Shecki @ Greatly Blessed
I’ll be homeschooling 3 of my kids next year, and we’ll be doing American history.
Shecki @ Greatly Blessed recently posted…Field Trip: Sacramento County Fair
Renee Aleshire Brown
Perfect timing!
Amber
This is just what I needed. Preparing for next year!! Thank You!!
Renee Aleshire Brown
Great! So glad that these resources will come in handy.