Settle foreign lands, battle for freedom and form a revolutionary new government!

• Relive American history from the early Native Americans through the 1850s
• Guide your children with confidence: you get daily plans and complete materials for the entire year
• Embrace the innovative spirit that characterized early American history

Totally interconnected learning

Reading with History D links BookShark's proprietary subjects together. History, Geography, Read-Alouds, Readers and Language Arts are integrated (Language Arts can be purchased separately). Meet Paul Revere in a history book, then see him in a Reader. Get to know George Washington in a biography, then see him again through children's eyes in Johnny Tremain and Phoebe the Spy. As your children learn and discover in this style, they'll make astonishing connections between the people, places and events in American History.

Discover the fascinating foundations of a unique nation

Bring life to your American heritage. Ask questions such as: What makes this nation different? How did it come to exist? Why don't we have a king? Who lived in North America before Christopher Columbus came? Why did settlers risk everything to start over in the New World?

Even if you're not from the U.S., learn valuable context for the world as it is today. See firsthand how the first modern democratic republic began. Discover how Americans fostered personal freedom and the spirit of innovation that so many countries emulate today.

BookShark's bold approach

BookShark's overarching goal for this package is for children to understand the context and progression of American History. Your child will grasp why people came to a new land and how they persevered and settled the continent. They will discover the civilizations that lived here before the Europeans arrived. You will be prompted to discuss how our Founding Fathers struggled mightily to create a new sense of equality and write a living Constitution. This engaging style will provide your child a deeper understanding of American history.

We touch on struggles between American Indians and settlers and the sad realities of racial conflicts, but we don't dwell on them. Instead, we focus on the creative, hard-working, vibrant spirit that helped families of early settlers, immigrants, pioneers and pilgrims overcome great obstacles.

Reading with History D - Includes:

Instructor's Guide

Includes a 36-Week, 4-Day schedule designed to save one day a week for co-ops, music lessons, sports, field trips or other extra-curricular activities. Includes colorful map answer keys, discussion questions and answers as well as background notes to help you get the most from the time you spend with your child.

As an added benefit this year, you will receive free online access for 1 year to the electronic version of this guide.

History & Geography │Intro to American History, Year 1 of 2

The Landmark History of the American People, Volume 1 serves as your central History book. It's a fascinating approach to American culture and events, from the Pilgrims to the mid-1800s. Learn about the social forces and cultural influences that have made Americans the unique people they are. Learn how necessity drove early settlers to innovate and to leave behind certain European conventions. Tie everything together with the included Timeline Figures to help you visually map the progression of early American History. Get ready to:

• Discover empires that thrived here long before Europeans arrived in the New World
• Sail with Christopher Columbus on his first journey of discovery to the Americas
• Cheer as a strange tribal law saves the first permanent English settlement in America and the life of Captain John Smith

Read-Alouds

Read 11 Read-Aloud books filled with pioneer adventure, colonial suspense and heartwarming courage. Spend many wonderful hours reading together this year. A sample of the titles include:

• Walk the World's Rim, where you meet Europeans in Texas long before the Pilgrims landed.
• The Sign of the Beaver, a Newbery Honor tale about a white boy rescued by an Indian chief.
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond, a Newbery Medal book about family, justice, and courage. (And despite the title, there is no witch nor witchcraft in this story.)

Readers

Level D Readers tie directly into the History content of the Package. These masterfully written, adventure-filled stories help cement the transition from "learning to read" to "reading to learn."

For children who are voracious readers or are on the older end of the 8-11 year age range, choose the Advanced Readers under the "Customize" tab. You'll get all the Regular Readers plus eight more gripping books.

Required Resources

A few essential resources make your learning extra rich this year. You'll use The Timeline Book and the Markable Map throughout your BookShark journey.