Third Grade, History, Set Three

We read chapter 77 of Child's History and started Abraham Lincoln's World (pages ix - 48).

Louisiana Purchase:

• The Louisiana Purchase: Would You Close the Deal? by Elaine Landau -- this book covers the subject thoroughly at an elementary level. It has "Words to Know" bolded and the definitions are in the back of the book. Every two to four pages, it puts forth a dilemma and give two or more options, asking the student, "What would you do?" There are plenty of illustrations and this was an interesting book that took us about 35 minutes to go through.
• The Louisiana Purchase by Elizabeth D. Jaffe -- we did not read this book because I felt the previous one covered the subject so completely. However, if you can't get that book, this one looks like it covers the subject in an interesting manner and it may have more details, making it better for an older student.

Lewis and Clark:

• Lewis and Clark: A Prairie Dog for the President by Shirley Redmond -- I had K. read this book on her own. It is written on a lower elementary reading level. K. enjoyed reading the book and finished it in one day.
• Sacagawea: Bird Girl by Flora Warren Seymour -- this book covers Sacagawea's childhood and traveling with Lewis and Clark.

Sir Walter Scott:

• Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe adapted by Marianna Mayer -- Sir Walter Scott's first book was published in the early 1800's and Ivanhoe was published in 1820. This book is perfect for elementary students. (I would have older students listen to the audio book if they weren't ready to read it.)

John Adams:

• A Picture Book of John and Abigail Adams by David Adler and Michael Adler -- lots of information with good illustrations on each page, written in a manner great for elementary students.
• How to Draw the Life and Times of John Adams by Ryan P. Randolph -- we discovered this series and really like it. K. enjoys drawing and each book gives instructions for about ten different drawings. From houses to portraits, step by step instructions are given that make the drawing fun and pretty easy. Most of the pages have information on one topic (such as, Childhood and Family or Peace with France) and on the facing page there are instructions (words and illustrations) for drawing something that pertains to the topic. We don't try to do all the drawings, just one or two. An older student would probably enjoy doing all of them on their own.

Westward Expansion:

• How to Draw the Life and Times of William Henry Harrison by Hilary Barton Billman -- we read the whole book, but paid special attention to the parts about Tecumseh and the Battle of Tippecanoe.
• Tecumseh by Don McLeese -- well written for children with lots of illustrations. If this book isn't available, Chief Tecumseh by Anne M. Todd is a good choice.

Alexander Hamilton:

• Soldier and Founder: Alexander Hamilton by Michael Burgan -- until we got to the duel, then we switched to the next book.
• Duel! Burr and Hamilton's Deadly War of Words by Dennis Brindell Fradin -- this is a really good book. The book begins with them getting ready for the duel, then goes back and gives a history of both men and their disagreements and ends with the completion of the duel.

War of 1812:

• The Army of Two by Polly Curren -- I had K. read this on her own. It is the story of how two girls frightened the British away from their town.
• The Open Gate by Wilma Pitchford Hays -- I had K. read this on her own. It is the story a French family in New Orleans and how the mother's attitude changed toward their American neighbors.
• Francis Scott Key and The Star-Spangled Banner
• Our National Anthem by Norman Pearl -- written for younger children, this is a picture book with good basic information. This book has all four stanzas of the poem.
• The National Anthem by M.C. Hall -- good book for children; it covers the subject quite thoroughly in a simple manner with full page illustrations.
• The Star-Spangled Banner in Translation: What It Really Means by Elizabeth Raum -- we mostly just read the translation. This book is written in a busy manner that is for older children.
• Francis Scott Key's Star-Spangled Banner by Monica Kulling -- I had K. read this on her own. This is a Step into Reading book, so it is written simply with lots of illustrations.
• Here are a couple more books that looked good, but we didn't read
• The Star-Spangled Banner by Liz Sonneborn -- I'd say this is better for 7th grade and up
• What's So Great About Francis Scott Key by Marylou Morano Kjelle -- good for upper elementary

50 States Notebook:

• President Thomas Jefferson, in office 1801 - 1809
• Ohio, #17
• President James Madison, in office 1809 - 1817
• Louisiana, #18