Free Modern American History Curriculum
Free Modern American History Curriculum
The Turn of a Century to a New Millennium
And WELCOME BACK if you’ve been following along with the entire series of free History Curriculum !
You can find the first part of the American History Curriculum here- Free Early American History Curriculum
*Is this ENTIRE History Curriculum REALLY free?
YES!
The entire curriculum is FREE online… just keep on scrolling down past all the details, extra resources, ideas on how to use it, etc…
You’ll see “Curriculum Starts Here” in red!
I PROMISE IT’S THERE ! 🙂
Below you will also find some of the questions I get asked the most, and the companion PRINTABLE resources (and some posts) that go along with this curriculum.
We now have posted FREE History Curriculum from Ancient Civilizations to Modern American History!
A Few Q&A’s About Using The FREE American History Curriculum
**Question #1- What Do I Need For This Study?**
Getting started with this free Modern American History curriculum is easier than you think—all you really need is an internet connection!
I first put this curriculum together out of necessity during a season when our family made a major move. We arrived in Lima, Peru with only seven duffle bags, and let’s just say the math didn’t work out for my book loving self:
2 adults + 3 kids + clothes + toys + cranberry sauce (yes, really!) + stacks of homeschool books = way too heavy.
Something had to go… and many of my beloved books were what got booted.
Before the move, I was the kind of homeschool mom who believed you could never have too many books or too many trips to the library. But suddenly living in another country without easy access to a library forced me to get creative. That’s how this online History curriculum series was born.
It’s flexible, simple to use, completely free—and it works beautifully even if all you have is Wi-Fi.
Of course, if you do have access to extra books, even better! Go for it!
I’ve also created a Modern American History Books & Resources List with my favorite read-alouds, activity guides, biographies, and movies to make this era even more engaging for your family.
What is the “Core Reading”?
*Required Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. If you decide to purchase any of these books/resources I’ve suggested, I’d appreciate it so much if you’d click through my links. I will receive a small commission from any sales at NO EXTRA cost to you ! I try to keep all of my curriculum free and so any Amazon purchases through my site helps me make a bit back on expenses. THANK YOU friends ! 🙂
Each daily lesson in the free homeschool history curriculum includes a Core Reading section.
Think of the core reading as the general outline for the unit. The suggested reading in this section just highlights the topic of each day’s lesson.
I’ve suggested two popular history books for the core reading that many homeschooling families already own.
However, you do not need these books to successfully use the curriculum!
I’ve included page references to make following along even easier. Use one book, both, a different history text you already own—or teach history without a textbook at all!
Every lesson also comes with online readings, hands-on projects, and creative activities designed to help your kids dig deeper into history—no matter what resources you have on hand. This flexible approach is perfect for multi-age homeschool history lessons, making it simple to teach all your children together. Whether your family is studying World War 2, or learning about what life was like during the Great Depression, the Core Reading will help keep the big picture perspective.
–>“The Story of the World” by Susan Wise Bauer (noted as “SOTW”).
–>“A Child’s History of the World” by Virgil Hillyer (marked as “CHOW” in the lessons)
*Modern American History Companion Resources and Posts From Fields of Daisies-
You can now print the ENTIRE Modern American History Curriculum in a quick print PDF Version !!
108 Pages- Just PRINT & GO! This will make your life so much easier!
I have also included lots of super fun Field Trip Ideas, planners, and other helps for this curriculum.
Modern American History Printable History Cards!
Modern American History BINGO Game!
Play & Learn!
Your whole family is going to get EXCITED to learn history with this hands-on game! Pretty much the standard BINGO we all love to play… with a twist!
I’ve made these cards and clues to go along with the Printable History Cards and Vocabulary for studying along with the FREE Modern American History Curriculum, but you could easily use it with any study of your own for this time period!
For LOTS of great historical fiction books, resource guides, hands-on activity books, movie suggestions, craft kits, and games for the Modern American History Curriculum check out the Modern American History Great Books List
You can also find TONS of additional resources with my FREE American Girl History Units!
If your student is interested in one particular time period, these units have all kinds of website suggestions, activities, hands-on projects, related language arts, science, geography, history, and even related Bible studies- all centered around the given era!
AND you could also add the companion printables for even more fun learning!
*Native America- American Girl Kaya
*Colonial America – American Girl Felicity
*Southwest Frontier America – American Girl Josefina
*Pioneer America – American Girl Kirsten
*Civil War America – American Girl Addy
*1900 Turn of the Century America – American Girl Samantha
*The Great Depression- American Girl Kit
*World War 2- American Girl Molly
*TOP 10 History Helps Posts-
These posts are packed with ideas to keep history FUN for the whole family—think podcasts that make car rides educational, catchy songs for learning American history and ancient history facts, movies the whole family can curl up and enjoy together, audiobooks for quiet times or bedtime, plus DIY history games you can whip up with things you already have at home (and a few awesome ones worth buying).
These Top 10 homeschool history ideas are designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and connection while you explore the past together.
+Top 10 History PODCASTS
+Top 10 History SONGS
+Top 10 History TIMELINES
+Top 10 History AUDIOBOOKS
+Top 10 History MOVIES
+Top 10 History BOOKS (This is the ULTIMATE History Book List!)
+Top 10 History GAMES
+Top 10 HANDS-ON History Projects
+Top 10 AMAZING Homeschooling Resources At The Library
**Question #2- WHAT is a history binder/notebook?**
You’ll notice that I mention a history binder a lot. Week 10 is all about this! So, what do I mean?
–>How To Make A History Binder (Watch this quick video showing what I mean- much faster!)
Here is how we made ours…
As we studied through each section of history, we each kept our own 3-ring binder- an ‘all in one place’ type of timeline. We filled the binders with fun facts, history related coloring pages, drawings, print outs, etc… each page with a date on the bottom (or at least stuck in the appropriate “period” of history). We even added brochures from the art museum and other field trips that tied into our ancient studies! In planning out our year, I also included biographies of important people, great artists, musicians, authors, scientists, etc. as applicable, and added them into the binder as well. The suggestions you will find under “People”, “Places”, “Events”, and “Vocabulary” all would make great page headings to include in these binders. As you flip through your binders to add pages, it is an automatic visual review of how these things fit together in a chronological history of our world. The Printable History Cards also make a great addition!
Do you have to use a history binder?
Not at all! This Modern American History curriculum is meant to be flexible, so you can shape it to fit your family’s learning style. If you’ve got a big wall just waiting for a history timeline, go for it! Or keep things super simple with a history notebook where your kids can jot down vocabulary, important people, and key events.
Personally, I’m a huge fan of History Timeline Binders (I may talk about them all the time, but the beauty of this curriculum is that you can make it work however you want. Add things in, leave things out—it’s all about what helps your kids enjoy and connect the dots of history best.
And if you want fresh inspiration, I’ve put together a post full of creative history timeline ideas—including another one of my favorites: box timelines. They’re easy, hands-on, and seriously so much fun! These are really fun if you have lots of Littles in the mix too!
**Question #3- How Do I Use This Curriculum To Teach ALL My Children Together?**
The lessons in this curriculum are designed to be student-friendly and self-guided for middle schoolers, but they can easily be adjusted to work for the whole family. When I was homeschooling my own kids, this is an idea of what really worked for us :
We read great historical fiction (and non-fiction) books for “Language Arts” during our “history” studies. I put “history” in quotes because there really isn’t a single subject area that isn’t at least touched on through the exploration of history. This serves as a great way to have more time to ENJOY reading and cover two “subject areas” at once. NO RUSHING THROUGH READING !!!
Perhaps one of the biggest bonuses is that this approach also makes it super easy to teach most all ages of kiddos at the same time… making life SO much easier and making the learning together a natural extension of the family. LOVE IT!
I’m also a believer in keeping a basket full of books of various reading levels on the focus topic somewhere where your children will spot them. On library days I made a point to stock up on any picture books, beginner readers, chapter books, and upper level reading books that were related to our study. I’d often find my older kids leafing through the easier books (or reading them aloud to a sibling)…and my Littles looking for pictures in the upper level books. That left me the middle ground to assign for independent reading and choose for our family read alouds. Also, the Free American Girl History Units mentioned above have tons of resources listed that work especially well for your younger children.
Some other things that worked for us-
* I assigned each child some independent reading on their level. Most often I chose fun historical fiction books or non-fiction color filled guides. I tried to make sure to have at least a few fun picture books for the Littles too. You could use the Story of the World/Child’s History of the World suggestions as assigned reading as well if you prefer.
* The plans below also include lots of online resources to broaden the topic (especially good for your visual learners!). These can be completed independently by older students, or done together as part of the lesson. There are lots of links to videos too…so please be sure to review them for sensitive material and so that you deem them suitable for YOUR family!)
* We kept a constant review of our studies going with a history timeline binder. The older students can add in the events, people, places, related field trips, etc… as they study and the Littles can add in coloring pages or drawings as well. As they search through the chronologically arranged pages in order to add a new page, it serves as the perfect mini visual review. You’ll be amazed at how well this works !!
(See Question #2 for all the details on how to make your own!)
Some Creative Ways to Teach Modern American History with Multiple Ages
+Choose a read-aloud that works for everyone
Choose one of the online reading suggestions each day to read aloud (or pick a book) that fits somewhere between your youngest and oldest student and make it your anchor text for history. Shared reading time often turned into one of the most memorable parts of our day—everyone gathered together, listening, and enjoying the same story. While I read aloud, my youngest usually kept her hands busy with coloring pages that matched the lesson, which made the history feel more visual and concrete. (Some options: the ones you can find in each daily lesson in this unit or Dover’s American Presidents Coloring Book)
+Blend history into other subjects
Modern American History connects naturally with so many areas of learning. We often tied in literature by reading historical fiction, pulled in Bible study where it fit, and used topics like the Industrial Revolution, westward expansion, or the space race to inspire math and science lessons. This cross-subject approach not only saved time but also gave history a living, real-world feel.
+Keep history alive in daily life
This idea borrows from Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and works wonderfully in a homeschool setting. I kept a basket of history-related books within easy reach—mixing picture books, biographies, and novels about Modern America. It amazed me to see the kids voluntarily pick them up throughout the day. Younger children browsed “big kid” books, while older ones sometimes flipped through picture books—both added layers to their understanding. You can do the same with art projects, models, or history displays by leaving them out to spark curiosity and conversation. Guests and relatives love hearing kids explain what they’ve been learning!
+Add hands-on activities
History is so much more memorable when kids can interact with it. Whether it’s cooking a recipe from the Great Depression, trying out wartime victory garden planting, or building models of early airplanes, projects give kids a way to step into the story. I’ve gathered my favorite resources and activity guides for Modern American History in the Books & Resources section, but here are a few fun ways to get started:
-Study the expansion of the railroad and then build a miniature model train route.
-Learn about World War II rationing, then spend a week trying to cook and eat using limited ingredients.
-While studying the Civil Rights era, design posters for a peaceful protest or create a freedom quilt.
-Studying the moon landing? Spend a night stargazing and identifying constellations—or try building your own simple model rocket.
The 21 History Activities Series is my favorite for short bites of information that is paired with really creative hands-on learning ideas. These activities can easily be leveled up or made a bit more simple, but enjoyed by everyone !! There are so many choices that would be good for this unit… here are just a few to give you an idea. Click on the picture to check them out.
**Question #4- How often should we “do” history?**
This curriculum is laid out with weekly lessons for a three day schedule. You could easily change this to a 5 day plan by adding in some hands-on activities (listed at the bottom of each week’s lessons), if that fits your needs better.
Another option if you’re a history loving family, is to stretch each DAY into a WEEK!
There are more than enough ideas suggested for each day to easily do this…..especially if you add in some good historical fiction reading, a field trip or two, some movies, and lots of creative projects!!
This curriculum, Part 1: Early American History & Part 2: Modern American History could then last an entire year !
Do some of the Hands-On Activities even if you’re not the crafty type!
I know I’ve already suggested this… but really! These are the kind of projects that will make MEMORIES !
I never realized how much studying history in this way would impress my kids….
Kind of like the time we were studying Ancient Egypt and a mummy LITERALLY showed up at our Thanksgiving table 😀 If you missed that, you can read about it in this post . I think we talk about this pretty much every year (it happened when my now 33 year old son was about 4)! lol
Print or make history cards with facts from this unit, keep them at the kitchen table, and turn them into simple games.
I like to laminate ours and jot a few trivia questions on the back. At lunch, a kid could pull a card, answer correctly, and win a small prize. Suddenly history feels less like “school” and more like family fun—and that’s when the best learning sticks. Make some of the DIY History Games or other Hands-On projects suggested in these posts I wrote!
+Top 10 History GAMES
+Top 10 HANDS-ON History Projects
The main thing to remember is never to let the curriculum be the boss of you!
USE the curriculum you have as a TOOL! Adjust it to work for your family!
Don’t get bogged down in checking off the boxes, and feeling like you must complete every single suggestion, or read ALL of the books!
You’re homeschooling now! You’re allowed to think outside the box, and keep living and learning together as a family the top priority!
**Do You Have Other QUESTIONS?**
I’d love to hear from you !
You can either comment at the bottom of this post or you can email me at
ch*****@*************es.com
**–> CURRICULUM STARTS HERE <–**
*Modern American History Timeline*
+The Turn of the Century (1900)
+The Industrial Revolution (1870-1914)
+World War I (1914-1918)
+Women Vote (1920)
+The Great Depression & Dust Bowl (1929-1935)
+The New Deal (1933-1939)
+The Holocaust (1933-1945)
+World War II (1939-1945)
+Attack On Pearl Harbor (1941)
+The Korean War (1950-1953)
+The Great Space Race (1955-1975)
+The Civil Rights Movement (1955-1963)
+The Vietnam War (1964-1973)
+The First Gulf War (1990-1991)
+September 11th (2001)
+The Second Gulf (Iraq) War (2003-2011)
*Modern American History Outline*
The Turn of a Century to the New Millennium
*Week 1- The Turn of the Century
*Week 2- World War I
*Week 3- The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl
*Week 4- World War II
*Week 5- Two Wars & a Race to Space
*Week 6- The Civil Rights Movement
*Week 7- The Vietnam War
*Week 8- Terrorism & the Gulf War
*Week 9– History Museum Week!
*Week 10-History Timeline Binders OR Notebook It! Week
*So many difficult days!
I realize a quick glance at the outline above would leave the impression that I only focused on the most depressing parts of this period of history. It’s true that there are a significant amount of wars and a yes, even a great “depression”, so it’s kind of hard to ignore. However, I have included many of the exciting and frankly AMAZING advances that were made during this time, not only in science and technology, but in the hearts and spirits of men.
SO PLEASE READ ON!
There are so many stories of bravery and compassion, ingenuity and genius, and a lot of downright plain grit found in the men and women who have lived during this time. I hope you and your children will be humbled as you study and inspired as you learn together !
*Modern American History Learning Objectives:
I’ve put together a few simple learning objectives to help you get started with Modern American History.
These are just ideas—
You’ll probably want to tweak or add to them as you go. Think of this as a flexible guide to help keep your studies on track while leaving plenty of room for creativity.
* History Timeline Cards
+Be able to sequence the Modern American History cards
You can either make your own history cards, purchase the ones I made for this unit, or skip this entirely!
There are 3 sets of cards: Events, People, and Places
You can choose to review by sequencing only the events, or by sequencing the events cards and then matching the people and place cards to the event. We played all kinds of relays and games with these to review. You can find more ideas for how to use these below.
+ Be able to tell at least 3 facts about each card
*History Timeline Binders OR Notebooks 
+ Add at least one page per event (see events list) to your binder. You could use your Timeline Cards for this!
Then as you study through this unit, add in the People & Places you’re learning about to the corresponding pages!
*Understanding History
+ Be able to tell what the Industrial Revolution was and how it changed America.
+ Be able to tell why America entered into WW1, WW2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf Wars.
+ Be able to explain very generally what each war was really about.
+ Be able to define/describe what it was like to live in America during:
–The Turn of the Century
(think a wealthy business owner, or a new immigrant, or a child working in a factory…life was very different for each person).
–World War I
–The Great Depression
–The Dust Bowl
(how did it affect the lives of those in different parts of the country)
–World War II
(be sure to remember how many immigrants that were now Americans- including those from Japan!)
–The Holocaust
(though it didn’t happen IN America, I think this is so very important to note- especially if you are studying this with your older children)
–The Cold War
(think drills at school and bomb shelters buried in backyards)
–The Space Race
(phew! finally something a little more fun!)
–Civil Rights Movement
(I am always amazed to let it soak in how NOT SO LONG ago this happened!)
–Vietnam War
–Gulf War
(I still remember exactly where I was when this happened!)
–September 11th
(Another sad, sad day in our history that every one who is old enough remembers vividly. I love to think on what Mr. Rogers said he did, and “find” the helpers in this heartwrenching time. I think this is a great way to help balance what children are learning- always overcome evil with good !)
*General Geography
+ Be able to locate on a map (included in the lessons) New York (Ellis Island), Europe (as a whole), Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman-Empire, Russia, Germany, Great Britain, France, Hawaii (Pearl Harbor), Asia (as a whole), Korea, Vietnam, the Middle East (as a whole), Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan.
*History Covers Every Subject!
+Be able to name some of the incredible innovations and inventions that marked the turn of the 19th Century. Spend some time trying to notice how many small things we depend on every day that were just being invented at this point.
+Note the art of the period. I will be adding an Art History section to each of these studies at some point… in the meantime you may like to have your student take note of one American artist each week, whose work inspires them.
I HIGHLY recommend “Discovering GREAT Artists“ for this.
It is my absolute favorite and the short bites of information and quick, easy art activities are PERFECT for adding art into your history studies.
*American History Vocabulary-
Just a short list…add as you go if you’d like or make your own list
-century -immigration -revolution
-industrial -philanthropy -tenement
-allies -suffragist -fascism
-nazi -dictator -communism
-democracy -alliance -concentration camp
-armistice -neutral -propaganda
-inflation -rations -economic depression
-shanty -drought -migrant
-Arms Race -satellite -Sputnik
-discrimination -socialism -segregation
-integration -civil rights -terrorism
Modern American History: The People, Places, and Events!
*Events To Know-
+These are essentially the same as the weekly topics of studies, and what I use on our History Cards. You could add to these for older students (or make subcategories for details)…or choose less for younger students.
*Spanish American War (1898- not covered in this unit, but you may want to cover it!)
+The Turn of the Century (1900)
+The Industrial Revolution (1870-1914)
+World War I (1914-1918)
+Women Vote (1920)
+The Great Depression & Dust Bowl (1929-1935)
+The New Deal (1933-1939)
+The Holocaust (1933-1945)
+World War II (1939-1945)
+Attack On Pearl Harbor (1941)
+The Korean War (1950-1953)
+The Great Space Race (1955-1975)
+The Civil Rights Movement (1955-1963)
+The Vietnam War (1964-1973)
+The First Gulf War (1990-1991)
+September 11th (2001)
+The Second Gulf (Iraq) War (2003-2011)
*People To Know-
Try matching the people, places, & events !
-Theodore Roosevelt -The Wright Brothers -Albert Einstein
-Henry Ford -Thomas Edison -Woodrow Wilson
-Archduke Ferdinand -Franklin Roosevelt -Harry Truman
-Benito Mussolini -Winston Churchill -Dwight Eisenhower
-Anne Frank -Corrie ten Boom -Richard Nixon
-Joseph Stalin -Mikhail Gorbachev -Allies
-Central Powers -John F. Kennedy -NASA
-Martin Luther King, Jr. -Ruby Bridges -Neil Armstrong
-Alan Shepherd -Ho Chi Minh -George HW Bush
-Saddam Hussein -Taliban -Osama bin Laden
*Places To Know-
-New York (Ellis Island) -Europe (continent) -Bulgaria
-Austria-Hungary -Ottoman Empire -Russia
-Germany -Great Britain -France
-Normandy -Versailles -Hawaii (Pearl Harbor)
-Hiroshima -Korea -Vietnam
-Middle East -Saudi Arabia -Iraq
-Iran -Afghanistan
#1- The internet is constantly changing… literally from second to second.
Though I try to keep up with changing them, you WILL come across some broken links in these units.
Either do a quick search for the same words, or send me an email, and I’ll be happy to find you some working links!
#2- Abbreviations you’ll see a lot-
+CHOW- ‘A Child’s History Of The World’
+SOTW- ‘The Story Of The World’
*1900- The Turn of a Century
+Suggested Supplemental Reading:
*NOTE: I’ve just selected 3 intermediate level books for each week.
You can find appropriate leveled books for your Littles up to High School on the Modern American History Book List .
+Letters From Rifka
+Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt !
+Epic Fails: The Wright Brothers, Nose Diving Into History
*Day 1- Ellis Island and the Great Melting Pot
+Read-
*Core Reading- none
*Online Reading-
*Immigration and Ellis Island
*What is Ellis Island?
*Eyewitness to History- Sadie’s Story
*Ellis Island Immigration Story
(Be sure to click through the BEAUTIFUL photo gallery !! )
*Who Was Annie Moore ? (Text and a short video- about 4 minutes)
*Read Seymour’s Story
+Explore-
*Ellis Island Virtual Field Trip & Interactive Tour
*DK Ellis Island (for younger students)
*MissionUS- A City of Immigrants (Interactive Game)
*From Ellis Island to Orchard Street
*They Came to America (Webquest)
*Virtual Field Trip to a 1900 Tenement
*Meet Bridget Moore
*Take a Virtual Tour of the Statue of Liberty
+Watch-
*Ellis Island the Gateway to Freedom (about 10 minutes)
*The Great American Melting Pot (Schoolhouse Rocks!)
*Arrival at Ellis Island
(from the History Channel- about 4 minutes; Be sure to scroll down to see lots of other related videos)
*Ellis Island – A Kid Explains History
(about 4 minutes…includes a nice interview with his grandfather)
*A Virtual Voyage to Ellis Island (about 5 minutes)
+Timeline/Notebook Pages:
*Ellis Island Coloring Page
*Immigration Coloring Pages
*What Would You Pack ? (Printable Worksheet)
*Ellis Island Immigration Process (Printable)
*How to Draw the Statue of Liberty
*Statue of Liberty Coloring Pages
*Ellis Island & Immigration Wordsearch
#1- I will include ideas for the Hands-On Activities and projects for each day at the end of this week’s lessons, but you can add them in anytime you’d like!
#2- I have also written a much more detailed unit study for 1900: A Turn of the Century !
You can check it out here- FREE Turn of the Century Unit Study
*Day 2- 1900’s Innovations & Inventions
+Read-
*Core Reading-
*CHOW- Chapter 82: The Age of Miracles and Chapter 83: A Different Kind of Revolution
*SOTW 4- Chapter 16: The Expanding United States
*Online Reading-
*The Industrial Revolution in America
*Child Labor
*Industrial Revolution Inventions and Technology
*Inventions of the Early 1900’s (You’ll be amazed !)
*Alexander Graham Bell and Henry Ford (short biographies & some activities)
*The First Airplane Flight
*Innovations Debut at the 1904 World’s Fair
+Explore-
*Past & Present: Trouble at the Mill (Interactive Game)
*Great Inventors/Inventions A to Z
*Exploring Inventions (MENSA for Kids)
*Explore the Titanic !
+Watch-
*Footage of New York City- 1903 (about 4 minutes)
*The Early 1900’s (A great introduction! About 52 minutes!)
*Mother Necessity (Schoolhouse Rocks!)
*The American Industrial Revolution (BrainPop! about 4 minutes)
*Come to the World’s Fair ! –> Also explore some of the fun food HERE
*Wilbur & Orville Wright’s Flying Machine
*The Titanic ! (about 4 minutes) or The Titanic a Remembrance
+Coloring/Notebooking-
*The Industrial Revolution Lapbook
*Ice Cream Cones – World’s Fair 1904 Coloring Page (Dover)
*Inventions- The Grocery Cart Coloring Page , Band Aids , Levi’s Jeans
*Wright Brothers Coloring Page
*Henry Ford’s Invention Coloring Page
*The Titanic
*Day 3- Theodore Roosevelt
+Read-
*Core Reading- none
*Online Reading-
*Biography of Theodore Roosevelt
*Theodore Roosevelt (History Channel – older students)
* 1901 – The Roosevelt’s Move Into the Whitehouse
*Teddy’s Zoo
*Theodore Roosevelt and the National Parks and Kids Page
*The Story of the Teddy Bear
*“Speak Softly, Carry a Big Stick” Speech
-> What did he mean?
+Watch-
*Meet Theodore Roosevelt (about 6 minutes)
*Theodore Roosevelt Song (Did you think I’d leave these out ? lol)
*Roosevelt’s Bear (about 3 minutes)
*John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt and Our National Parks (11 minutes)
+Explore-
*Virtual Tour of Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace
*The Roosevelt’s (Interactive Timeline)
*Virtual Tour of Sagamore Hill
*Virtual Tour of Roosevelt National Park & The Badlands
+Coloring/Notebooking-
*President Roosevelt Coloring Pages (from all parts of his life)
*More Roosevelt Coloring Pages
*Theodore Roosevelt Worksheets and Coloring Page
*Notebooking Pages & Worksheets (Theodore Roosevelt)
*Our National Parks Coloring Pages
*Week 1- Hands-On Learning !
*Make a Family Tree !
How far back can you go? Did any of your family members pass through Ellis Island?
*Can You Pass the Tests ?
Ellis Island Medical Exam- Would You Pass?
–> And Medical Inspection
* Naturalization Test
AND the current New Naturalization Test ?
*Write a letter home.
Imagine what life in America would be like as a girl or boy your age just arriving. Choose your “home” country, and write a letter to your friend there describing all the new sights, sounds, smells, and even tastes of your new country !
*Build a 3D Statue of Liberty
(I think this would be fun to use in creating a whole diorama of New York Harbor!)
*Try a recipe for one of the new foods at the World’s Fair 1904
*Create Your Own Invention (Step by step guide printable from MIT )
* Try making some of these inventions–> Inventions You Can DO!
*How to Be an Inventor (good for younger inventors!)
*World War I (The Great War)
+The Night Flyers
+World War 1: An Interactive History Adventure
+The Great Gatsby
*Day 1- The Start of the Great War
+Read-
*Core Reading-
*CHOW- Chapter 84: A World at War
*SOTW 4- Chapter 20: Revolution in the Americas…War In the World
Chapter 21: A Revolution Begins, and the Great War Ends
*Online Reading-
*Causes of WWI
*Discover History – WWI (from NatGeo- REALLY good intro to WWI)
*10 Ways Children Took Part in WWI
*WWI from the BBC– read about The Great War from almost any angle on this site !
*Surprising Communication Techniques of WWI
*Stories of Faith from WWI
*Listen/Read “Private Peaceful”
–> There are a lot of great activities and resources if you’d like to do more
with this book. Just scroll down a bit on the page
or click –> Programme Notes.
*Modern Warfare! and Aviation and WWI
+Explore-
*Travel Through WWI to Armistice Day Interactive
(Note: click on Tell Us About You to start)
*Tales From the Trenches – From Those Who Were There
(Interactive from BBC)
*Virtual Tour of a Trench (from BBC) or THIS one from WWI Museum
*Explore this Animated Map
*Voices of the First World War
*Archie Dobson’s War
+Watch-
*A Kid Explains History- WWI (about 4 minutes)
*Horrible Histories Frightful First War (the quality of this video isn’t very good since I couldn’t find the original… BUT it is the BEST and most simple explanation of the beginning of World War I that I could find anywhere!! Just over 2 minutes)
*Stubby – A Different Kind of War Hero
* History of WWI in One Take
(from History Bombs- about 6 minutes…Great visuals for these videos. They are not textbooky whatsoever and packed with info. Probably something you’d want to watch several times.)
* World War 1!
(This is a good series of videos that covers this war in depth. You may like to choose one or many (there are over 200 videos) of these depending on the age and interest of your children. If you look to the right of the page, you will find the videos listed in chronological order.)
–>What Was Happening in America Before the War (about 9 minutes)
–>A Shot That Changed the World (Note: there is a less than polite word used in this video- not a curse word. Just letting you know so you can preview & decide. Video is about 8 minutes)
*World War I Cousins (funny short video from Horrible Histories)
*Mr. Betts World War One Song (may hurt the ears- ouch, but it’s a great review of a lot info in a catchy tune!)
+Coloring/Notebooking-
*Blank Map of Europe (for coloring Allies/Central Powers, countries, etc…)
*WWI Begins and WWI (Coloring Pages)
*WWI Early Reader and Coloring Pages
*Day 2- America at War!
+Read-
*Core Reading- none
*Online Reading-
*The Zimmermann Telegram
–> you can see the original coded document HERE !!
*America Enters the War !
*The US in WWI
*Life On the Homefront
*Native American Code Talkers- Heroes of WWI
*President Woodrow Wilson and WWI
*The Allied Powers
*American Children in WWI
+Watch-
*The US Enters the War (about 2 minutes)
*Why Did the US Enter the War? (about 1 minute!)
*American Homefront During WWI (about 8 minutes)
*American Experience- The Great War (about 8 minutes)
*Sgt. York Wartime Hero 1918 (about 9 minutes with lots of original footage)
*Peculiar Planespotters (about 3 minutes…just for fun)
*What Ended WW1? (About 3 minutes)
+Explore-
*Interactive Map and Timeline of WWI
*WW1 Adventure in the Trenches (from the Canadian War Museum)
*Take a Virtual Field Trip Through WWI Museum and Memorial
*The Trench Experience (Interactive Game)
*WWI and American Art
+Coloring/Notebook
*America Joins the War
*World War 1 Coloring Pages
*1918 WWI (Coloring Page)
*WWI Soldier and Sailor Coloring Page
*First World War Maps (Great suggested mapping activities too!)
*Day 3- The War Ends and the 1920’s Begin !
+Read-
*Core Reading-
*SOTW 4- Chapter 23: “Peace” and a Man of War
*Online Reading-
*The End of the Great War
*Wilson’s 14 Points
*Armistice and the End of WWI
*WWI Ends
*How Did WWI End ?
*The Remembrance Poppy OR The Poppy
*After the War… the Roaring 20’s
*What Happened After the War? The Roaring 20’s
*Invention 1920 !
*The 1920’s and Life After the War
+Watch-
*The Treaty of Versailles- The Big 3 (about 3 minutes)
*Armistice- The End of the Great War (about 6 minutes- animated)
*The US After the War
*“In Flanders Fields” (Charlie Brown – about 5 minutes)
*Story Behind “In Flanders Fields” and the Poppy (about 2 minutes)
*The Poppy Lady (Book read aloud- about 15 minutes)
*WWI Ends
*What was happening in the US after the Great War ?
*Dance Craze! Roaring 20’s (about 2 minutes )
*Schoolhouse Rocks Suffrage – The 19th Amendment (about 3 mins)
*Walt Disney , Babe Ruth , Amelia Earhart
+Explore-
*Test Your WWI Knowledge or try this WW1 Quiz from Ducksters
*11-11-18 Armistice (Interactive Virtual Museum Exhibit)
*Picturing the First World War (Smithsonian Online Art Exhibit)
*Explore After the War – 1920 (Interactive)
*Armistice Day (Choose Your Adventure Game)
*The Roaring 20’s
*The Roaring 20’s Interactive Games
+Coloring/Notebook-
*Armistice Day Coloring Page
*Wilson’s Armistice Day Soldier and Little Boy Coloring Page
*WWI Soldier in Parade
*In Flanders Fields Mini-Book
*Remembrace Day Coloring Pages
*Suffrage Coloring Page
*Fashion in the Roaring 20’s Coloring Pages
*Amelia Earhart Coloring Page
*Week 2- Hands-On Learning !
*Make an Army Helmet that you can wear
*Crack the Code ! An entire page of links to get you started!
*Make these Red Baron Airplanes !
*Whip up some Trench Stew, ANZAC Biscuits, and Bake a Trench Cake
*Recreate a model of the dreaded Trenches
*Listen to some of the Music from the War… can you write a song of your own?
*Treaty of Versailles Simulation Activity
*Plant a Remembrance Garden in your backyard !
(You can find these Flanders Poppy Flower Seeds (Amazon link)
*Or try making these Pinwheel Poppies
*Learn a Dance from the Roaring 20’s !
*The Great Depression & The Dust
+Suggested Supplemental Reading:
+The Mighty Miss Malone
+The Grapes of Wrath
+What Was the Great Depression ?
*Day 1- The Great Depression
I have also written a much more detailed unit – FREE Unit- The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl !
You might like to use the entire unit if this period is peaking your family’s interest, or just use some of the ideas to add to this week’s lessons!
Also, a lot of the resources would be good for your younger students!
+Read-
*Core Reading-
*SOTW- Chapter 26: The Great Crash and What Came of It
*Online Reading-
*What is the Great Depression ?
*The Great Depression for Kids
*The Stock Market Crash of 1929
*President Herbert Hoover
*Daily Life in the City & Daily Life in the Country
*What Were Hoovervilles?
*Hoovervilles for Kids
*Franklin D. Roosevelt
*The End of the Great Depression
+Watch-
*History Brief- The Great Depression (4 minutes)
*Stories From the Great Depression (about 28 minutes)
*“Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”
*10 Minutes Through the Great Depression
(Great review of ALL the facts-best for older students)
*FDR An American President (about 6 minutes)
*Great Depression Song
*This is a great full length movie depicting life and how drastically and quickly it changed for many in during the “Great Depression”.
( Watch Instantly on Amazon Prime- as of publishing it was $2.99)
+Explore-
*The Great Depression in Photos
*Art of the Great Depression
*Great Depression Simulation Game
*Explore the Great Depression (Interactive)
*Brain Pop, The Great Depression Game
*The Great Depression for Children and Government Aid
Explore some First Hand Accounts of the Great Depression and also
Letters to the President discussing citizens many differing opinions on
government aid. There is a TON of information in this handout
-> SCROLL to page 30 to find what is applicable to this section.
+Coloring/Notebook-
*Great Depression Coloring Page and Notebooking Pages
*Bread Lines
*Herbert Hoover Coloring/Info Page
*Franklin Roosevelt Coloring/Info Page
*Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats Page
*Day 2- The Dust Bowl
+Read-
*Core Reading- none
*Online Reading-
*The Dust Bowl
*What Caused the Dust Bowl ?
(Be sure to click through the photos! Fascinating!)
*A Child of the Dust Bowl (A firsthand account)
*10 Things You May Not Know About the Dust Bowl
*Migrant Mother
+Watch-
*History Brief: The Dustbowl (about 4 minutes)
*American Experience- Dustbowl (Chapter 1- about 9 minutes)
*Woody Guthrie and the Okies
(PBS- lots of videos about the Dust Bowl in general too)
Dust Bowl Blues and Dust Can’t Kill Me (Woody Guthrie with great photos)
*Grant Wood and American Gothic
+Explore-
*What If You Had Lived During the Dust Bowl (Interactive)
*An Eyewitness Account
*Explore the Dust Bowl Photo Gallery
*Dust Bowl Refugees – Explore more with this Photo
*Up From the Dust (Interactive Game)
*Interactive Dust Bowl Quiz
*My American Farm Stewardship Game
+Coloring/Notebook-
*Dust Bowl Map/Worksheet
*American Gothic Coloring Page
*Wind Storm Coloring Page (ok… so this is a tornado, but it could pass as a dust storm 😀 )
*Day 3- Franklin D. Roosevelt & The New Deal
+Read-
*Core Reading-
*CHOTW- Chapter 85: A Short Twenty Years
*Online Reading-
*Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt
*The First New Deal and The Second New Deal
*Kids Biography and Activities- All About Franklin D. Roosevelt
*All About Eleanor Roosevelt- Biography and Activities
*Franklin Delano Roosevelt Biography for Kids
*Eleanor’s World
*Why Was the Food SO BAD at the Roosevelt’s ?!?
*Eyewitness to History- FDR’s Death
+Watch-
*Disney’s American Presidents- Franklin D. Roosevelt
*Roosevelt’s New Deal (about 5 minutes)
*New Deal (Uptown Funk- History Song)
*FDR New Deal Programs (about 5 minutes)
*New Deal For You (about 3 minutes)
*Short Biography of Eleanor Roosevelt (about 4 minutes)
*Eleanor Roosevelt and the Red Cross
(NOTE: There are some disturbing images of soldiers suffering mental illness as a result of war- caution if you are watching with the Littles ! About 3 minutes)
*The New Deal (NOTE: If you want to skip his intro skip to about 3:22…This is a more in depth conversation that pretty much sums up everything we studied this week. This is geared toward high school. About 20 minutes)
+Explore-
*Photos of FDR & Eleanor Roosevelt
*Listen to one of Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats
*Roosevelt Rap with Printable Questions
*BrainPop Franklin Roosevelt Game
*Roosevelt Interactive Timeline of the 1930’s
*Art of the New Deal Online Art Exhibit
*Take a Virtual Tour of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library
(There is also an AUDIO of the tour available…this is really cool!)
+Coloring/Notebook-
*9 Roosevelt Coloring Pages (including a Fala one ! 🙂 )
*Eleanor Roosevelt Coloring/Info Page
*Franklin Roosevelt Notebooking Pages
*FDR Printable Worksheets/Activities
*Week 3- Hands-On Learning !
*Try a Depression Era Recipe
Such as Clara’s recipe for “Poorman’s Meal” or
one of these 8 Curious Recipes from the Depression
OR try coming up with 5 Frugal Recipes of your own.
How inexpensively can you make a filling meal?
Figure out how much each serving would cost and how much money you would need to eat for a week…to feed a family of 5 for week… etc…
*The Great Depression Simulation
Families of the Depression Economy Simulation
(Though this activity is geared toward a classroom it could definitely be done within your family…or homeschool group. The video clearly shows how to use it.)
*Find Shelter! Whether they were called shanty towns, Hoovervilles, or Okievilles, the number of homeless families scrambling to create a shelter in which to live was heartbreaking. Without preparing, could you build a sturdy shelter out of just the odds and ends junk you have lying around? Think cardboard boxes, old blankets, pieces of wood, etc. This would be a great exercise to understand how difficult this would have been.
*Volunteer at a local food kitchen or food bank. Donate your time, some food, some money, or all of the above! Compassion and awareness of need may be a life changing lesson. Homelessness is still a problem almost everywhere in the United States. Your children may be surprised to see how many families with young children visit a food kitchen.
*Discuss FDR’s Political Ideology and Agenda.
Discuss the ideologies and agenda of America’s early government.
(For example- “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.” – Thomas Jefferson)
Find a method you like to compare the two.
You could create a large chart and compare the two side by side, or draw a
Venn Diagram. If you need more ideas -> 10 Ways to Compare & Contrast
You may even like to make a third comparison with our Democrat/Republican
political ideologies of government presently.
These Hoover & Roosevelt Debate Cards would be a great way to get this
activity going… scroll down to PAGE 10 to find them.
Great family discussion !
*WEEK 4 : World War II
*Suggested supplemental reading-
+The Hiding Place
+DK Eyewitness World War II
+WWII On the Home Front- An Interactive History
I have also written a much more detailed (and FREE) unit study for World War 2!
You might like to use the entire unit if this period is peaking your family’s interest, or just use some of the ideas or hands-on projects to add to this week’s lessons! There are TONS of ideas for further reading, language arts, science, geography, Bible Study, and hands-on projects to try!
You can also check out this other World War 2 Book, Movie, Resources List! There are lots of great movie ideas in there for World War 2 era!
*Day 1- World War 2 Begins and Pearl Harbor
+Read-
*Core Reading-
*CHOW- Chapter 86: Modern Barbarians
-Chapter 87: Fighting the Dictators (you could continue part of this on Day 2)
*SOTW 4– Chapter 27: Civil War and Invasion
-Chapter 28: The Second World War
*Online Reading-
*Causes of World War II
*10 Eye Opening Facts about WW2
*Who Were the Big 3 ?
*World War 2 in Europe
* WW2 in the Pacific
*What Happened at Pearl Harbor ?
*Pearl Harbor
*D-Day: The Invasion of Normandy
*Who Was Winston Churchill ?
*WW2 at Home
*What Were Japanese Internment Camps ?
*The Homefront
*Life in America During WW2
*Navajo Code Talkers and Code Talkers of WW2
+Watch–
*History of WWII in One Take (from History Bombs – about 7 minutes)
*America On the Home Front (about 26 minutes…narration starts at about 1 minute into the video)
*A Kid Explains History – World War 2
*World War 2- Crash Course
(Starts from Armistice to End of WW2- about 10 minutes)
*Pearl Harbor
*Pearl Harbor Explained (about 2 minutes)
*Short Bio of Sir Winston Churchill (about 3 minutes)
+Explore-
*Pearl Harbor Infographic
*Pearl Harbor True Stories Interactive
*The Music of WWII (just for something fun!)
*Interactive WW2 Timeline for Kids
*Listen to FDR’s “Day of Infamy” Speech
*Interactive Map of Attack on Pearl Harbor
*Virtual Exhibition: Pearl Harbor Attack
*Pearl Harbor In Pictures (Scroll down for 17 real photos that tell the story)
*Explore Life at Home in the 1940’s
+Coloring/Notebooking Pages-
*WW2 Begins Coloring Page
*Pearl Harbor Coloring Pages & Worksheets
*Attack on Pearl Harbor Coloring Page or Pearl Harbor is Attacked
*The American Home Front – WW2 , Women & the Work Force
*D-Day Invasion Coloring Page , Normandy
*WW2 Weaponry Coloring Pages
*Winston Churchill Coloring Page
*Pearl Harbor Notebooking Pages
*Fact Sheet Printables-
– Rationing – Scrapping
– V-Mail – Radios
*Day 2- The Holocaust
+Read-
*Core Reading- none
*Online Reading-
*What is the Holocaust ?
*Introduction to the Holocaust
*Adolph Hitler and the Holocaust
*What is Propaganda ? and Propaganda Today
–> If you’d like to explore propaganda more, Propaganda Project is a really good, but simple group of lessons.
And check out LOTS of these World War 2 Propaganda Posters !
*The Political Cartoons of … Dr. Seuss ?
*The Diary of Renia Spiegel
*Who Was Anne Frank ? (for younger students)
*Anne Frank (for older students- includes video)
*The Diary of Anne Frank
*The Life of Anne Frank
(includes an entire lesson- online activities, timelines, photos, videos, etc)
*Anne Frank’s Secret Annex and A Typical Day in the Annex
*US Holocaust Memorial Museum
(This Website has lots of videos, resources, and ideas for teaching this difficult but important topic. I just gave the direct link so you could decide which resources were appropriate for your family)
*The Helpers-
Fred Rogers (aka Mr. Rogers) was once asked what to tell children about war and all the terrible things that come with it. He shared a quote his mother had taught him-
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
And so even in the midst of the Holocaust, if we look, there were LOTS of helpers. Here are just a few:
–Irena Sendler
–Sir Nicholas Winton
–Corrie ten Boom
–Oskar & Emilie Schindler
+Explore-
*Virtual Tour of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum
*Americans and the Holocaust
*Stories of Courage
*Tour Anne Frank’s Secret Annex
*Take a Virtual Tour of Corrie ten Boom’s House
*The History of the ten Boom Family (Interactive Timeline)
+Watch-
*This topic is absolutely horrifying and heartbreaking…but a part of history that, in my opinion, should be thoroughly discussed and remembered.
With the current antisemitism so prevalent in the world today, all the more reason to UNDERSTAND history!
However, I found it difficult to find appropriate videos for families learning together.
Reading (text only) allows a child’s mind only to go as far as previous experience (or previous visual images) has taught them…video may give them mental images that they are’t yet ready for.
For this reason, I am not including many videos. There are some that are a part of the “Explore section” and many more are available on YouTube, or for purchase such as The Hiding Place and I Am David (listed below).
The full length movies tend to not be as graphic in nature. Please preview like always.
*The Terrible Things
(This is a short story -animated video- that would make an EXCELLENT introduction and conversation starter for most all ages concerning the holocaust)
*The Story of Lala
(Love triumphs over hate! Just an animated story told by a holocaust survivor about his beloved dog)
–Corrie ten Boom’s Story (animated)
–The Story of Elie Wiesel
–Irena Sendler’s Story
–The Story of Sir Nicholas Winton
(Grab the tissues! This is BEAUTIFUL!!)
*The Hiding Place
(I highly recommend this movie. “Overcome evil with good”)
Click the image below to watch on Amazon Prime, or you can find The Hiding Place DVD also on Amazon.
*I Am David
(Another movie that is good to illustrate this time..including the good that overcomes evil… Rated PG)
+Coloring and Notebooking Pages-
*The Holocaust Notebooking Page
*Anne Frank Notebooking Page
*Anne Frank Coloring Page
*Corrie ten Boom Coloring Pages 1 2 3 4 5
*Holocaust Remembrance Day Coloring Page
*Holocaust Page
*Day 3- World War 2 Ends
+Read-
*Core Reading-
*SOTW 4- Chapter 29: The End of World War II
*Online Reading-
*President Harry Truman
*The Battle of Midway
*D Day
(This would be great to print out as a booklet!)
*Battle of Iwo Jima
*Who Was Albert Einstein ?
AND What Does Einstein Have to Do With WW2?
*The Manhattan Project and the Atomic Bomb
*Hiroshima and the Atomic Bomb
*The Atomic Bomb (DK Find Out)
*End of the War- The Bombing of Hiroshima
*The Marshall Plan
*VJ & VE Days
–> Scroll to the bottom of this page to see Photos of VJ & VE Days
+Watch-
*Who Was Harry Truman ? (about 1 minute)
*Biography of Albert Einstein (about 4 minutes)
*Einstein’s Escape From Hitler (a clip from NatGeo- about 3 minutes)
*Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the End of WW2 (about 3 minutes)
*Hiroshima- A Survivor’s Story in Animation (about 5 minutes)
*Truman &the Atomic Bomb (about 5 minutes)
*World War 2- How Did It End ? (about 3 minutes)
*VJ Day
(real footage of the announcement of the end of the war- about 3 minutes)
+Explore-
*Battle In the Atlantic Game
–D Day Video Field Trip
(This video field trip from the WW2 Museum is put together and narrated by students!)
+Coloring/Notebooking Pages-
* Iwo Jima and Flag at Iwo Jima
*Atomic Bomb Notebooking Page
*The Manhattan Project and the Atomic Bomb Handouts from the NPS
*6 President Truman Coloring Pages
*Albert Einstein Coloring Page
*Week 4- Hands-On History Learning !
*Plant a Victory Garden !
+Read a bit more about Victory Gardens-
–Classroom Victory Garden
– WW2 Victory Gardens
+You can watch how one family transformed their whole front yard Front Yard Victory Garden !
+Grow Your Own!
How many veggies can you grow in one large flower pot?
What kinds of recipes can you create using basic rations and what you grew?
–Family Garden Printables for extra fun !
You may also like to add these resources-
*Create Your Own WW2 Victory Garden Poster
Learn more about the beautiful, colorful posters made during this time and why they were created. Read more of the fascinating facts behind these artworks Victory Posters , and find directions how to make your own!
*Try one of these Navajo Code Talker Activities !
You can find the real, declassified Navajo Code Talkers Dictionary HERE !
Super cool to look at even if you don’t choose to do this activity !
*Get Scrapping !
Kids played a role in helping America during WW2 too! One way they helped was by “scrapping”.
+Check out these PHOTOS of kids scrapping during WW2, and listen to some memories of scrapping days.
We might call this recycling today. Scrapping is STILL a good activity, not just during a time of war, but anytime! Recycling can help our land, animals, and even our own families.
+Watch this video (Virtual Tour) and then try some of these SCRAPPING ACTIVITIES yourself !
+How Many Creative Uses Can You Find For Plastic Water Bottles ?
(see how many of these ideas you can DO yourself !)
+Go scrapping for an Art Project
(Ideas from Deep Space Sparkle- I highly recommend this site! SUPER ideas!)
+30 Ideas for Using Recycled Finds
+20 Ways to Reuse & Recycle Plastic Bottles
*Shadow Boxes
Show what you know! Choose one part of this study and create a shadow box about your topic. Think about how it could help others understand or learn something from this hard part of history! You could even create a Remembrance Box and bring it out during Memorial Day or Holocaust Remembrance Day each year to honor the memories of the fallen.
Check out this Gallery for some examples to get you started.
*Week 5: More War?
Two Wars and a Great Race
+Reaching for the Moon
+When My Name Was Keoko
+Korean War : Choose Your Own Adventure
*Day 1- The Cold War
+Read-
*Core Reading-
*CHOTW- Chapter 89: A New Big Power
– Chapter 90: Trying to Keep Peace
*SOTW 4- p. 384-395 and p. 445-452
*Online Reading-
*What was the Cold War ?
*The 3 Major Conflicts of the Cold War
*The Cold War Begins
*What is the Iron Curtain ?
*The Arms Race
*Communism
*What Was the Red Scare ?
*The Berlin Airlift and The Berlin Wall
*The Cuban Missile Crisis
*Bitesize History- The Cuban Missile Crisis
*Collapse of the Soviet Union
+Watch–
*Why Did the Cold War Begin ? (about 3 minutes)
*What is Communism ? (about 4 minutes)
*The Cold War in One Take (History Bombs – about 8 minutes)
*10 Minutes – The Cold War
*Cold War Explained (Hip Hughes- best for high school – 11 minutes)
*The Cold War and the Iron Curtain
(Really clear lesson – about 7 minutes… I never link to sites that aren’t free… this one is a subscription, but you can sign up for a free trial and watch this video)
*Winston Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech
(Interesting presentation- about 3 minutes)
*Duck and Cover ! Life in the 1950’s (about 9 minutes- this is a video for children telling them what to do in case of an Atomic Bomb…good starting point for many conversations. Many of our parents lived during this time and could give great first hand accounts of this period of history.)
*Family Fall Out Shelters
*The Fall of the Berlin War (news footage from 1989)
+Explore-
*Interactive Cold War Trivia Game
*Cold War Map Activity
*Countries of the Cold War Map Game
*Simulation- Chocolates & Communism OR Socialism with Sweets
(Please read through this activity- there should be some great questions about government that it stirs up!!)
*Test Your Knowledge- Berlin Wall
+Coloring/Notebooking Pages-
*The Cold War Map (from Layers of Learning)
*Cold War Coloring Page
*Cuban Missile Crisis Page
*End of the Cold War Notebooking Page
*Winston Churchill Notebooking Page
*President Truman Coloring Pages
*Day 2- The Korean War
+Read-
*Core Reading-
*SOTW 4- Chapter 33: Communism in Asia
*Online Reading-
*The Korean War
*Bitesize History- The Korean War
*Introduction to the Korean War
*Remembering The Forgotten War
(Maps, a quick intro to the War, and lots of stories from Koreans and American service members. Some of the stories start off a little wordy, but keep reading! Fascinating first hand accounts!!)
*8 Facts You Should Know About the Korean War
*Who Was General MacArthur ?
*South Korea and North Korea
+Watch-
*Why is Korea Divided ? A Kid Explains History (about 5 minutes)
*The Korean War (about 5 minutes)
*Memestory – The Korean War (about 6 minutes- think history in memes)
*A History of the Korean War (about 5 minutes)
*Why Did America Fight the Korean War ?
*M.A.S.H.
(Did you know MASH was set in the Korean War? Best for older students)
+Explore-
*Brain POP – Korean War Game
*Learn more about North and South Korea on this Interactive Map of Asia
*Interactive Timeline of the Korean War
*Korean War Interactive Quiz
*What is the UN ?
+Coloring/Notebooking Pages-
*Korean War Coloring Page
*Fight In Korea Coloring Page
*Korea Coloring Pages
*President Eisenhower Coloring Pages
*Day 3- The Great Space Race
+Read-
*Core Reading- none
*Online Reading-
*The Space Race
*Who Won the Space Race ?
*Sputnik 1
*Neil Armstrong
*The First Moon Landing
(also this unit–>First Moon Landing<–from DIY Homeschooler is SUPER !)
*The Final Frontier- Space Exploration
(be sure to scroll and click for some super cool photos !)
*Human Space Flight ! (check out what people eat in space 😀 )
*Space Exploration Timeline- 1944 to Present
*Apollo to the Moon
+Watch-
*The Space Race (about 4 minutes- animated)
*A Kid Explains the Space Race (about 4 minutes)
*Who Won the Space Race ? (about 4 minutes)
*Man on the Moon ! Cronkite Broadcast CBS
(about 10 minutes- STILL AMAZING to watch !!)
*Apollo 11 videos from NASA
*Neil Armstrong (about 7 minutes- for the Littles)
*Space Race Song – Mr. Betts
*Apollo 11 Landing (about 2 minutes)
*The Story of Apollo 11 and the First Men on the Moon (about 15 minutes)
*Take a Video Tour of the International Space Station
(I love their sleep stations!)
+Explore-
*Experience the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing
*Space Race Interactive Quiz
*Explore the Great Race to Space !
*Space Race Interactive Timeline
*Virtual Field Trip to Air & Space Museum – Great Space Race
*Other Online Exhibits – Space Race
*Interactive Space Suit Experience (from NASA)
*International Space Station – Interactive Exploration
*TONS of fun Space Games Online (from NASA)
+Coloring/Notebooking Pages-
*TONS of Space Exploration Printables
*Explorer 1 Coloring Page
*John Glenn Coloring Page
*Apollo 11 Notebooking Pages (from DIY Homeschooler)
*Buzz Aldrin Notebooking Pages
*Neil Armstrong Notebooking Pages
*Week 5- Hands-On History Learning !
*Write your own history song!
Show what you know by writing your own history song… like THIS ONE !
I love the creativity !
*Contemplate the Cold War Culture
+Think about the “Climate” the Cold War created in our country. People were fearful and distrustful even of friends and neighbors sometimes. Research the terms “McCarthyism” and “The Red Scare”.
Did you know the famous chef Julia Child was even on the government’s watch list ?
+To see what it might have been like during this time, gather your family (and even some friends) together and try playing the Dot Game or this Cold War/McCarthyism Simulation and talk through the questions included.
What would YOU have done as a leader of our country at the time?
How would you have protected the security of the nation and not
governed by fear ?
*Korean War Remembrance
+Brainstorm how you might be able to remember and honor the veterans of the Forgotten War.
+Choose one of your ideas and put it into action !
+Here are some ideas to get you started-
-Do you know anyone who fought in the Korean War? Contact someone at your local VFW. Maybe they could help you set up a meeting with one of their members. Interview them about their experiences…really listen to their stories. Think of a way you could honor them when you meet.
-After studying about this war, design and create a short YouTube video explaining the Korean War and why we shouldn’t forget about it. Think ‘A Kid Explains History’ videos as a place to start.
*Have Your Own Race to Space !
+Make Your Own SpaceCraft (STEM activity from NASA)
+Make this Bubble Powered Rocket !
+Build a Hand Held Hubble Telescope (several levels of difficulty)
+Try another Mission Module from Destination Space !
*Week 6 –The Civil Rights Movement
+Through My Eyes
+Rosa
+The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1964
*Day 1- The Montgomery Bus Boycott & Civil Activism
+Read-
*Core Reading-
* SOTW4- Chapter 36: Struggles and Assassinations
*Online Reading-
*What Was the Civil Rights Movement ?
*The Jim Crow Laws
*The Montgomery Bus Boycott
*Who Was Rosa Parks ? and you can also ready more HERE
*Want to Know What Mrs. Parks Really Thought ?
(You can read this interesting interview with her !)
*Brown vs. Board of Education AND Ruby Bridges
+Watch-
*Rosa Parks- Civil Rights Activist (about 5 minutes)
*The Montgomery Bus Boycott – American Freedom Stories (about 4 minutes)
*Facts About Rosa Parks (great for younger students)
*Join The Greensboro Lunch Counter Sit In
(Great Presentation by National Museum of American History )
*Ruby Bridges Goes to School (actual footage of Ruby going into school as well as Ruby’s own thoughts back on that day)
+Explore-
*How I Fought for Civil Rights (Interactive)
*Student Sit-Ins Interactive (Choose Your Path )
*Civil Rights Movement Puzzles
*Civil Rights Memory Game
*Ruby Bridges Slide Show
*Brown vs. Board of Education (Explore this Smithsonian Exhibition)
*Before the Boycott (Interactive)
+Coloring/Notebooking Pages-
*Rosa Parks Printable
*Rosa Parks Notebooking Pages
*Montgomery Bus Boycott Coloring Page
*Civil Rights Printable Activity Book (includes all types of printables)
*Ruby Bridges Printables & Coloring Pages (for the Littles)
*Ruby Bridges Flip Book
*Day 2- Martin Luther King, Jr.
*Note: After reading about SO many years and years of war, this lesson is a great time to emphasize the impact of “peaceful protest” and the amazing change that one person can make ! A positive and inspiring message for sure.
Whether in time of war or in time of activism, these lives and sacrifices they made are appreciated and should be remembered always.
+Read-
*Core Reading- none
*Online Reading-
*Martin Luther King Jr. Biography
*Who was Martin Luther King Jr. ? (NatGeo – great photo biography !)
*What Was the March on Washington ?
*Civil Rights and the March On Washington
*History of Martin Luther King Jr. (History.com -includes a video as well)
*Full Text of “I Have a Dream” Speech
+Watch-
*The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. By Kid President (about 4 minutes)
*Martin Luther King Remembered (about 3 minutes)
*A Kid Explains Martin Luther King Jr. (about 4 minutes)
*I Have a Dream Speech at March on Washington (about 17 minutes)
*Kid President Has a Dream- March on Washington (about 3 minutes)
*Bob Dylan & Joan Baez Activism Through Song
Peter, Paul, and Mary at the March On Washington
(great footage and interview- about 5 minutes)
–>This is a good intro to a conversation about standing up for what is right no matter what your color or race is, or what it might cost you. I’ve read that Bob Dylan STILL sings this song at many of his concerts today!
*Mahalia Jackson at the March On Washington
*Martin Luther King Jr. From BrainPop (about 6 minutes)
+Explore-
*Take a Virtual Tour of MLK’s Home
*Interactive Timeline of the Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
*Explore “I Have a Dream” Speech in Text, Audio, and Art
*Time Zone X – Martin Luther King Jr.
*National Mall Scavenger Hunt (You could find answers online)
*Explore Items From the March On Washington (Smithsonian Online Exhibit)
+Coloring/Notebooking Pages-
*Martin Luther King, Jr. Notebooking Pages
*MLK Printables (mini-books, puzzles, coloring pages, etc…)
*Martin Luther King Jr. Lapbook
*MLK Notebooking Page and March on Washington Notebooking Page
*Notebooking/Writing Pages for Younger Students
*Martin Luther King Printable Mini Book
*Day 3- John F. Kennedy
+Read-
*Core Reading-
* SOTW4- p. 396-402
*Online Reading-
*Biography of John F. Kennedy
*Discover Kids- President Kennedy
*John F Kennedy History (Exhibit with Text)
*Civil Rights Act of 1964
*Read President Kennedy’s Speech on Civil Rights
*The Assassination of John F Kennedy
+Watch-
*John F Kennedy – 60 Second Presidents
*JFK and the Soviet Menace (about 2 minutes)
*American Experience – JFK Chapter 1 (about 10 minutes)
*President Kennedy’s Address on Civil Rights (about 6 minutes)
+Explore-
*President Kennedy’s Desk (learn all about JFK with this interactive game!)
*The Kennedy’s in Photos
*John F Kennedy Game (from BrainPop)
*Create Your Own Campaign Poster
+Coloring/Notebooking Pages-
*Collection of John F Kennedy Coloring Pages
*John F Kennedy Notebooking Page
*Jacqueline Kennedy Notebooking Page
*Week 6- Hands-On Learning !
*Make a Dr. King Collage
+Think of the many different art mediums you could use to do this project!!
You could use letters, words, and colored paper torn from newspapers, magazines, or printed images like the AMAZING artist Gary Gresko (aka MY dad) did in this collage of Martin Luther King, Jr.
You could use paint, pastels, pencil, even pieces of bark or other natural materials. Your collage could be flat on a piece of paper, or on a canvas, or even 3-D like a diorama !
+Plan out your project and brainstorm ways you can best express the emotion and importance of Dr. King’s message.
+ Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes
+You can find one example and some directions to get you started -> Create A Collage!
*Write a Freedom Song of Your Own
Music often moves people deeper even than the spoken word.
We learned about some musicians this week that wanted to use their talents to stand up for the rights of all people and make a change. Do you love to write music ? Try writing (and maybe even recording) your own Freedom Song !
*Be a Civil Rights History Reporter
+Try to find a member in the community who attended the March on Washington. Listen to their first hand account of what it was like. Think of some questions you’d like to ask them after studying this time period and write up your news report !
OR
+You might like to research any Civil Rights activity/stories happened in your area. One class of students did this and made their own City Civil Rights +Map complete with audio podcasts for each stop on the map.
+Listen to their Local Civil Rights History Podcasts
*Create Your Own Campaign Poster
If YOU were running for President, what would your “platform” be ? What would you want people to know about you and what you planned to do if you were elected ? You can see some interesting campaign posters of the past here –> Political Campaign Posters !
*Week 7 – The Vietnam War
*Suggested supplemental reading for Vietnam War-
+10 True Tales: Vietnam War Heroes
+DK Eyewitness- The Vietnam War
+Inside Out & Back Again
*Day 1- The War In Vietnam
+Read-
*Core Reading-
*CHOW- Chapter 91: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
*Online Reading-
*Where is Vietnam ?
*Bitesize History- The Vietnam War
*Brief Intro to the Vietnam War (from Ducksters)
*Vietnam Facts for Kids
+Watch-
*Take a Tour of the Modern Country of Vietnam (about 12 minutes)
*A Kid Explains the Vietnam War (about 5 minutes)
*A Country and People Divided (about 2 minutes)
*Communism Versus Democracy (about 4 minutes)
*Learning Adventures- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
(Complete overview of the Vietnam Era- students learn outside history books from the music of the time, firsthand accounts, and visiting the memorial…from PBS, about 49 minutes)
–National Geographic Explorer- Vietnam (about 6 minutes)
-Longer Video about the Country of Vietnam (about 45 minutes)
*The Story of Dave Roever
(About 38 minutes- a bit dated, but Mr. Roever’s humor in this video as he speaks to high school students takes the harsh and life altering realities of war and uses it to inspire still today !)
+Explore-
*The Story of the Vietnam War in Photos
*Interactive Timeline of the Vietnam Era
*Take a Virtual Tour of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
*Explore More about the Vietnam War – BrainPop Games
+Coloring/Notebooking Pages-
*Vietnam War Notebooking Page
*Vietnam – Country Lapbook
*Vietnam Printable Map
*Day 2- America at War in Vietnam
+Read-
*Core Reading-
+SOTW 4- Chapter 37: Two Short Wars and One Long One
*Online Reading-
*The Presidents-
+President Lyndon B. Johnson
+Richard Nixon- President
*The Vietnam War
*America Enters the War
*The War Escalates and America Enters
*Vietnam War at Home- The Anti-War Movement
*Vietnam: A History in Song
(Includes audio of the music of both the anti-war movement and those who supported the war…also highlights the continued racial tension in the country. NOTE: There is one graphic photo near the end of this article)
+Watch-
*America & the War- The Draft (about 3 minutes)
*The Vietnam War and The Draft (animated, about 3 minutes)
*Vietnam Song (Mr. Betts)
*Why Did America Fight the Vietnam War ? (about 4 minutes)
*The Unwinnable War (about 3 minutes)
*The History of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
(from the National Parks Service- about 25 minutes)
+Explore-
*A Time to Choose
(Choose Your Own Experience Interactive- NOTE: I haven’t tried all the possible scenarios so I can’t vouch for what might appear on screen… please use at your discretion!)
*War Games
If you are using this history study in a group setting
(or if you have a big family 🙂 ) than this activity would be a GREAT hands-on, THINKING activity !
*Remembering Vietnam Exhibit from the National Archives
*Explore Vietnam War Interactive Map
*The Wall – Explore the Vietnam War Memorial Interactive
+Coloring/Notebooking Pages-
*Vietnam Memorial Coloring Page
*Military Coloring Pages
*Lyndon B Johnson Coloring Pages
*President Richard Nixon Coloring Pages
*Day 3- The War Ends
+Read-
*Core Reading- none
*Online Reading-
*What Was the Tet Offensive ?
*Ending American Involvement in Vietnam
*Negotiations to End the War – 1973
*Escape From Saigon- The True Story of Ba Van Nguyen
*Firsthand Account of the Fall of Saigon- A Child’s Story
*The Fall of Saigon – 1975
*The Napalm Girl- Story of Forgiveness & Hope
(This story does not include the famous (and heartbreakingly graphic) photo of 9 year old Kim Phuc… you can view the photo HERE on her website…. You can also read a bit more about what Napalm and Agent Orange are HERE )
+Watch-
*The Story of the Napalm Girl
(NOTE: Begins with graphic photo. Kim’s interview with CBS- amazing story! What an inspiration she is !)
*Coming Home (about 3 minutes)
* THANK YOU (about 3 minutes- activity to use with this video is found under this week’s Hands-On section)
*How is the Vietnam War Affecting You Today ?
(video of veterans and their families- about 5 minutes)
*Maya Lin and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (about 7 minutes)
+Explore-
*The End of the Vietnam War in Photos
*Explore the Vietnam War Memorials
*What Would You Have Done ?
(Gen. Westmoreland Promises to End the War – Activity for older students. Click for the printable organizer… this could be the stand alone activity really.)
+Coloring/Notebooking Pages-
*Returning From the Vietnam War Coloring Page
*Vietnam Coloring Pages & Map (from Kids of Courage)
*Maya Lin Page
*Week 7- Hands-On History Learning !
*Thank a Vietnam Veteran
+Watch this short video– THANK YOU (also in Week 3).
This activity is more about being aware of those veterans who may not have been appreciated, or worse may have been terribly mistreated when coming home from Vietnam. Do you know someone in your family or in your community who served in Vietnam?
You could even visit a nursing home and ask if they have any residents who are Veterans that you could visit with. (PLEASE don’t be offended… I do realize many veterans of this war are still young 🙂
+You could also contact the VFW HERE to arrange a visit. Notice things like ‘Vietnam Veterans’ caps or tattoos (as the case in the video).
Tell them ‘thank you’ for their service. Or you could write a card or buy them a meal, or just take the time to tell them you’ve been studying about the war and ask a few questions about their lives. Showing you care about them and the sacrifices they made is important.
*Write a Song about the Vietnam War (or about the Veterans of this war)
Music has so much power to touch the hearts (and minds) of people. Write a song about this period of our history… OR write a song to (or about) one of the Vietnam Veterans you have studied about (or someone you know)!
*Design and Create a Memorial
After learning about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial created by Maya Lin, try designing your own memorial. Brainstorm all kinds of ideas and pick one to create! You could plant a tree or a beautiful garden of flowers… you could create a sculpture or even a painting! Be sure you keep in mind what you want to communicate with your artwork.
+You can find some more directions or ideas–> Sculpture
*Learn More About Vietnam
+You could try making some Vietnamese Food.
+Learn how to play some traditional Vietnamese Children’s Games.
+Or learn some Common Phrases in Vietnamese.
*Week 8 – Terrorism and the Gulf War
*Suggested supplemental reading for The Gulf War-
+DK Children’s History of the 20th Century
+Kiss the Dust
+The Red Bandanna
*Day 1- The Gulf War
+Read-
*Core Reading-
*SOTW 4- Chapter 38: Two Ways of Fighting -p. 426-431 (Terrorism) ; 464-468 (Gulf War)
*Online Reading-
*National Army Museum- The Gulf War
*The Persian Gulf War
*What Is the Persian Gulf War ?
*Where Is the Persian Gulf ?
*Geography of the Middle East
*Operation Desert Storm
*President George HW Bush
*Colin Powell
*General Schwarzkopf
+Watch-
*George HW Bush Announces the Start of the Gulf War (about 6 minutes)
*What Happened In the Persian Gulf War ? (about 5 minutes)
*Memestory The Persian Gulf War
(just for FUN- think history in memes- about 5 minutes)
*Hip Hughes- Persian Gulf War (Best for High School- about 12 minutes)
*President Bush Announces the End of the Gulf War (about2minutes)
*Timeline of Persian Gulf War (and a good history overall! about 5 minutes)
+Explore-
*Operation Desert Storm in Photos
*Online Gulf War Quiz – Test Your Knowledge
*Interactive Timeline of the Persian Gulf War
+Coloring/Notebooking Pages-
*Persian Gulf War Coloring Page
*Gulf War Soldier Coloring Page
*Operation Desert Storm Notebooking Page
*Gulf War Unit Study and Notebooking Page
*President George HW Bush Coloring Pages
*Day 2- September 11th: Terrorism in the US & The Iraq War
*You may choose to swap Day 2 & Day 3 around since technically these events occurred after the turn of the millennium. I ordered the lessons this way so we would end on a happier topic 😀
+Read-
*Core Reading-
*SOTW 4- Afterword- p. 477
*Online Reading-
*The Attacks on America- September 11th
*Bitesize History- 9/11 and the War on Terror
*7 Stories of Heroism
*The Iraq War
*Where Is Iraq ?
*Learning More About Iraq
*Bitesize History- The War in Iraq
*President George W. Bush
*A World Without Oil
(Always when reading history we need to keep in mind that EVERY resource comes with a measure of personal bias... so THINK and TALK it through! As we’ve learned, some believed the Iraqi War was less about the threat of terror, and more about oil…. this article , without mention of this war, may be a good intro to a deeper discussion on this)
+Watch-
*The Little Chapel That Stood (about 6 minutes)
–> If you want to hear this book read by it’s author (starts at 7:44), and some
of her thoughts about writing it, you can watch it HERE
*President George Bush’s Address to the Nation on September 11th
*Why We Should Remember 9/11 (from Teen Kids News- about 4 minutes)
*9/11 Animated Video (BrainPop- good for younger children !)
*The Morning of September 11th (about 3 minutes…the most appropriate video I could find for all ages)
*September 11th in NYC – Video Timeline (about 5 minutes)
*Friendship in Gander, Canada (This day really did affect the world- thankfully in some very good ways too. Overcome evil with good <3 )
*Heroism on 9/11 – The Pentagon (about 5 minutes)
*America Reacts (about 2 minutes)
*The Iraq War (about 6 minutes)
*Why America Invaded Iraq (for older students but really ties this whole week together! About 5 minutes)
*Who Was Saddam Hussein ? (about 4 minutes)
+Explore-
*Virtual Interactive Tour of the 9/11 Memorial Museum
*911 Interactive Museum Experience
*Take a Virtual and Detailed Tour of the Ground Zero Memorial Plaza
*Interactive Timeline of 9/11 (caution: there are some disturbing photos)
*TPT September 11th Activity (Free)
*Explore Flight 93 (The Flight Story, The People, and The Memorial)
*Map of Iraq
*Interactive Timeline of Iraqi War
+Coloring/Notebooking Pages-
*Tons of September 11th related Notebooking Pages
*September 11th Coloring Pages
*Map of Iraq
*Iraqi Flag Coloring Page
*President George W Bush Coloring Pages
*Day 3- The End of the 20th Century- A New Millennium
+Read-
*Core Reading- none
*Online Reading-
*Top News Stories From the Year 2000
*10 Things You Didn’t Realize Were Invented in 2000
*Kids in the Year 1904 Predict the World in 2019
(Really interesting – with the exception of some acrid comments by the author at the very end)
*Read What Children’s Lives Were Like at the Turn of the 20th Century
*President Bill Clinton (President of the US at the Turn of the Millennium)
*International Space Station First Crew
*War in Afghanistan & Osama bin Laden
*America Elects It’s First African American President
+Watch-
*America, The Story of Us – The Millennium (about 45 minutes)
*The Y2K Scare (about 2 minutes- National Geographic)
*10 Catastrophies of Y2K (about 8 minutes)
*Kids React to the First IPod (about 7 minutes)
*Children Predict What the Year 2000 Will Be Like (in 1985…about 2 minutes)
*President Barak Obama (about 3 minutes)
+Explore-
*National Geographic Interactive Timeline (Super Cool! Scroll to the date you want and select on of the images… you can then select more information to explore!)
*Interactive Timeline of the New Millennium
*Check Out the International Space Station
*Space Station For Students
+Coloring/Notebooking Pages-
*International Space Station Coloring Page
*International Space Station Activity Book
*President Clinton Coloring Pages
*President Obama Coloring Pages
*Week 8- Hands-On History Learning !
*Send a Thank You Card or Package to a Service Member
+You can find Free Printable Thank You Cards and a list of Organizations That Send Cards and Letters .
+Click on the highlighted links for lots of ideas !
*Participate In Wreaths Across America
You can find a full explanation of what this group is and what it does
+What Is Wreaths Across America?
Be sure to read all the way to the bottom where you will also find all kinds of printables and ideas for activities that YOU can do !
*Remember and Honor Your Local First Responders
Many first responders (firefighters, EMTs, and police officers) acted with incredible bravery and heroism during the 9/11 attacks on America. Think of some ways you might be able to thank your local first responders today. These people risk their lives every day for our communities everywhere. It could be as simple as a visit and a thank you… or a plate of homemade cookies… or a holiday meal (my son-in-law is a firefighter and they so appreciate this when they are missing holidays with their families)… or just dropping off all the fixings for a giant batch of ice cream sundaes 🙂
*Write Your Own Prediction for the Year 2030 (or farther into the future)
After reading/watching the predictions for the future made by children of the past, write your own predictions for what life will be like in the year 2030 (or whatever time you choose). It might be fun to seal the letter and put it into a safe place to be opened on the eve of the year you chose.
*Week 9 – History Museum Week!
What Is History Museum Week?
History Museum Week might just become the highlight of your Modern American History study!
It’s a chance for you to put everything you’ve been learning on display—projects, crafts, artwork, maps, timelines, and more—by creating a “mini museum” right in your own home.
Think of it like a history-themed version of a science fair.
Instead of volcanoes and experiments, your kids can share what they’ve discovered about the Civil War, the Great Depression, World Wars I & II, the Civil Rights Movement, the Space Race, and other key moments of modern times. From a talk on what propaganda is, to recreated ration books, model airplanes, dioramas of historic events, dramatic readings of famous speeches, or even fun 20th-century recipes—this is their chance to showcase their hard work and creativity.
Have homeschooling friends who’d love this too?
Invite them to join in! You don’t need a fancy venue—just your living room, backyard, church, or co-op space. Grandparents, neighbors, and friends will love walking through the “museum” and celebrating all the kids’ projects.
Bonus Tip: Add to the fun by serving Modern American–inspired snacks like Depression-era “mock apple pie,” 1940s-style popcorn balls, 1960s Jell-O salads, or astronaut ice cream from the Space Age. Play music from the decades you’re studying to set the mood!
How to Host Your Own History Museum Night
Introduce the Idea
Start by explaining to your kids what History Museum Night is all about! Let them know it’s their opportunity to share what they’ve learned about Modern American life and events—from the Civil War and Reconstruction to World War II, the Civil Rights era, or even the moon landing. The goal? Turn their knowledge into something fun and interactive to display for others.
Brainstorm Project Ideas
Spend some time coming up with creative display options. Encourage hands-on, interactive projects. Maybe they want to design WWII propaganda posters, create a scrapbook of 1960s protests, build a model of Ellis Island, cook a recipe from the 1930s, record themselves giving a famous speech, or act out a moment in history.
Make a Plan
Once the ideas are flowing, help your kids choose which ones to focus on, gather supplies, and plan how they’ll set up their “museum exhibits” when the big day arrives.
Invite an Audience
Every museum needs visitors! Invite family, friends, and your homeschool group to come walk through the displays. No matter where you set it up—your home, backyard, or co-op—having an audience makes the event even more meaningful.
Why Do a History Museum Week?
Creating your own museum has so many benefits—even if it’s just for your immediate family. It makes Modern American History come alive in a hands-on way, helps kids practice organizing and presenting their work, and builds confidence as they share their projects with others. Plus, these kinds of interactive experiences stick with kids far longer than a worksheet or quiz ever could!
Find what aspect excited you the most…
What has been the most memorable fact ?
Is there an event, or a person, or a place that inspired you ?
How can you share what you’ve discovered?
Some EXTRA ideas:
-Create a piece of Art that represents the Modern Age of American History (sculpture, painting, collage, etc)
-Make an interactive flip book timeline of famous faces (or places, etc)
-Interview a veteran, and make a presentation based on his life!
-Write a play, a poem, a song, or a story
-Spend time in your community giving back this week
Be Creative !
There are endless ways to show what you’ve been learning about.
*Week 10 – History Timeline Binders OR Notebook It! Week
This week is totally optional!
If you have been notebooking throughout this entire unit, then you can use this week to fill in any empty spots, add in some pages, watch some related movies, and review ! My kids really enjoyed showing off their notebooks after finishing a section ! You could really take a whole day for them to display all they’ve worked on, including their hands-on projects and these notebooks, and have them tell you all about their work !
+Make a Cover Page for this section “Modern American History- 1900 Turn of the Century to A New Millennium”, to add to your history binder.
Be sure to put a line across the bottom of the page and note our “beginning date”.
+OR…Make a History Notebook Page (if you haven’t already) for each of the 17 sections (see below).
This can be print outs, coloring sheets, or hand written pages. BE CREATIVE!
Just the heading and the line need to be done for each page today.
*Spanish American War (1898- not covered in this unit, but you may want to cover it!)
+The Turn of the Century (1900)
+The Industrial Revolution (1870-1914)
+World War I (1914-1918)
+Women Vote (1920)
+The Great Depression & Dust Bowl (1929-1935)
+The New Deal (1933-1939)
+The Holocaust (1933-1945)
+World War II (1939-1945)
+Attack On Pearl Harbor (1941)
+The Korean War (1950-1953)
+The Great Space Race (1955-1975)
+The Civil Rights Movement (1955-1963)
+The Vietnam War (1964-1973)
+The First Gulf War (1990-1991)
+September 11th (2001)
+The Second Gulf (Iraq) War (2003-2011)
+Add a bit of information for each of the 17 pages you made on Day 1.
-You may write things you can remember…quotes…draw pictures, etc.
-Add in any of the activities you tried on the proper page :
Recipes, pictures, or description of any food you cooked, drawings of any inventions you made, etc. You also could use main ideas from the reading
(cut & paste pictures, bubble notes, or bullet points…)
+ Review the 17 index cards.
+Try seeing how fast you can put the cards in order !
+ Do a Candy Quiz on these today !
You did it !
Hope you and your family enjoyed this study !
If you’re just finding these free history resources, you may also like to check out the Free Ancient World History Curriculum series as well.
It makes a great starting point !
For an explanation and to check out the curriculum, just click
–> “Free Chronological World History Plan” .
You can find the daily plans for the following studies as well-
Section 1: Ancient Civilizations & the Old Testament
Section 2: Ancient Egypt (includes Ancient China)
Section 3: Ancient Greece
Section 4: Ancient Rome
Section 5: The Middle Ages
If you have ANY QUESTIONS at all, I’d love to hear from you !
You can either comment at the bottom of this post or you can email me at
ch*****@*************es.com
Enjoy !
10 Comments
Stephanie Herzog
I can’t thank you enough for this resource you are offering!!!! It is truly amazing and a blessing. After a fall through on the production of a curriculum I planned on using this fall, I was scrambling to figure out how to teach five of my seven kids history and iterature this year. You have saved the day with these posts. The words THANK YOU” are not enough to describe my gratitude. Blessings to you and your family always!
willowchenoah
Hi Stephanie~
Your email just totally blessed me! I am so happy to know that the lessons I wrote are helping your sweet family!! If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to email or message me anytime 🙂. I absolutely love hearing how each family uses the curriculum in their own creative ways!
Wishing you a most wonderful year of living, loving, and learning together!
~Chenoah
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