This page contains the books and materials (plus reviews) used in our American history curriculum topic 17. In this topic of our history curriculum you will explore topics such as the American Revolution, Boston Tea Party, The 4th of July and more.

Books and Materials for Topic 17

Icon Key and Explanations

***NOTE**** There are a LOT of books coming up for topic 17. Choose your favorites. If you try to get to them all, this topic will really stretch out for a long time. It's up to you and your child's interest!

Liberty's Kids
This interactive computer game is perfect for this topic.
"Travel to the frontlines of the American Revolution and investigate some of the important events in the country’s history as a reporter for The Pennsylvania Gazette in Liberty’s Kids™. "

If You Lived At The Time Of The American Revolution (by Kay Moore)

Topic 17

Johnny Tremain (by Esther Forbes) *optional
You may want to watch the movie instead. I don’t know why, but I just can’t get myself to like this book. One of my kids REALLY liked it though (the other commented that it was dull and drab), so I’ve scheduled it for my son and will see how it goes. You are going to have to explain some of the vocabulary in this book as you come to it.

*Updated...We finished this book and my son ended up liking it after all and so did I (begrudgingly). It took us awhile to get into it but it does give a good picture of what is going on at the time from a more personal level.

Topic 17

OR

Toliver’s Secret (by Esther Brady)

This book looks a lot better than Johnny Tremain to me, but that’s just my opinion. We didn't end up reading it (Johnny Tremain took a long time to get through). You may want to give it a try though!

Topics 17

Johnny Tremain [videorecording] / Walt Disney; screenplay by Tom Blackburn ; directed by Robert Stevenson.

Topic 17

Emma's Journal: The Story of a Colonial Girl (by Marissa Moss)
This book by Marissa Moss is a lot of fun! It looks like a diary written by a child and has illustrations scattered throughout that look like colorful, hand drawn additions to the diary entries. Sometimes it looks like little objects have been tucked amongst the pages with little notes written next to them. My children love these books!

Topic 17

Joining the Boston Tea Party (Time-Traveling Twins) (by Diane Stanley) This is a fun, colorful and easy to read book!

Topic 17

Winter At Valley Forge – (by James E. Knight)

Topic 17

The 4th of July Story(by Alice Dagliesh)

Topic 17

And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? (by Jean Fritz)

Topic 17

Can’t You Make Them Behave King George (by Jean Fritz)

Topic 17

Will You Sign Here, John Hancock? (by Jean Fritz)

Topic 17

Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams? (by Jean Fritz)

Topic 17

Sam, the Minuteman (I Can Read Book 3) (by Nathaniel Benchley) 

Topic 17

 Phoebe the Spy (by Judith Berry Griffin)

Topic 17

Hannah of Fairfield : Pioneer Daughters #1 (by Jean Van Leeuwen)

Topic 17

American Revolution (Magic Tree House Research Guides (Paperback)) (by Mary Pope Osborne)

Topic 17

This Country of Ours Selections
*This is an optional read-aloud from a free online text.

51. THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY
52. PAUL REVERE'S RIDE–THE UNSHEATHING OF THE SWORD
53. THE FIRST THRUST–THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL
54. THE WAR IN CANADA
55. THE BIRTH OF A GREAT NATION
56. THE DARKEST HOUR–TRENTON AND PRINCETON
57. BURGOYNE'S CAMPAIGN–BENNINGTON AND ORISKANY
58. BURGOYNE'S CAMPAIGN–BEMIS HEIGHTS AND SARATOGA
59. BRANDYWINE–GERMANTOWN–VALLEY FORGE
60. WAR ON THE SEA
61. THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH–THE STORY OF CAPTAIN MOLLY 62. THE STORY OF A GREAT CRIME
63. A TURNING POINT IN THE WORLD'S HISTORY

1776  / Columbia Pictures; screenplay by Peter Stone; produced by Jack L. Warner ; directed by Peter H. Hunt.

"The film version of the Broadway musical comedy of the same name. In the days leading up to July 4, 1776, Continental Congressmen John Adams and Benjamin Franklin coerce Thomas Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence as a delaying tactic as they try to persuade the American colonies to support a resolution on independence. As George Washington sends depressing messages describing one military disaster after another, the businessmen, landowners and slave holders in Congress all stand in the way of the Declaration, and a single "nay" vote will forever end the question of independence. Large portions of spoken and sung dialog are taken directly from the letters and memoirs of the actual participants. "

The songs are catchy and the movie is memorable. It is actually a favorite of the adults in our house. I do need to warn you though that there is some mild sexual innuendo present in a few parts but it's likely to fly over the heads of most kiddoes. There are also swear words used and the Lord's name is taken in vain (such as "Good G*d" and "My G*d, GD) every once in awhile. You may wish to screen it before allowing the kids to watch it.

Topic 17

The Declaration of Independence [videorecording] / a production of Schlessinger Media; Stone House Productions ; director, John McCally ; producer, C.W. Rogers ; executive producers, Andrew Schlessinger, Tracy Mitchell ; writer, Ken Youngdahl. Wynnewood, PA : Schlessinger Media, c2002. 

Topic 17

PLUS

American Kids in History

History Pockets: Colonial America

Wee Sing America Book and CD

Children’s Treasury of Virtues

The Story of the U.S.A. Book 1

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