I was wondering if you had any suggestions for summer reading on post-Civil War American History. I have been doing Bigger Hearts plus extensions for my 4th and 6th graders. They also have been pulling things off the shelf from that time-period for their free-reading time that are more at their learning and reading level. However, as my husband was questioning them (and me) regarding American History (and some World History), he was asking questions about World War 1, the Depression, World War 2 and other more recent events. I know that that is briefly touched on at the end of Bigger Hearts, especially with the extensions (we are running a bit late since we started in January). However, he would really like them to get at least a bit better overview of history after the civil war BEFORE high school (and my DD won't make it to the Moderns program since she will be doing CTC next year in 7th grade). Anyhow, I thought we could fill in the "gaps" with a reading list for the summer-- my kids won't mind a bit, especially if there are no projects, drawing, etc. involved (those things are STILL like pulling teeth with my kids
).Anyway, I have researched online and by looking at Sonlight booklists and in the Veritas Press catolog, but I know that you always have WONDERFUL recommendations. So, please share some of your favorite books about the following:
California Gold Rush
Pony Express
Telegraph
Reconstruction in the South
Chicago Fire (We live near there-- so I'd like them to be familiar with it.)
Little Big Horn
First World's Fair in Philadelphia and/or the Great Chicago World's Fair
Buffalo Bill
Statue of Liberty
Wounded Knee
Industrialization
Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone
Thomas Edison (already covered in Bigger)
Ellis Island and immigration
Wright Brothers (already covered in Bigger)
San Fransisco Earthquake
Henry Ford and the Model T
World War I
Panama Canal
Albert Einstein
Russia: Bolshevik Revolution and Tsar Nicholas II as last tsar.
League of Nations
Prohibition
Scopes Trial
Charles Lindbergh
Great Depression
FDR and the New Deal
Hoover Dam
Mount Rushmore
World War II (Pre-US involvement, "surface" information about the Holocaust, Pearl Harbor, D-Day, Hiroshima and Nagasaki)
United Nations
Gandhi
Korean War
Rosa Parks
Civil Rights
NASA
Cuba and Fidel Castro
Cold War
JFK
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Vietnam War
Moon landing by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
Mt. St. Helens eruption
Space Shuttles
Collapse of Soviet Union
Persian Gulf War
September 11
War in Iraq and Afghanistan
Don't worry, I don't plan to have them read anything and everything about all of these subjects.
These are just some of the major events and people that I'd like them to be aware of since the Civil War. We have quite a few books on these events (and they've read some), but other events I have a sparse library. So, I'd like to know what books others would REALLY recommend (of course I don't want to mess up the HOD sequence, but as I mentioned, my DD won't get to the Modern Era before high school).If you have events or people that you have have books that are "must reads" that I've neglected, feel free to add them to your list.
I am SO excited for my DD to be doing CTC next year, but my DH and I both would like to fill in a few of the "gaps" at the "end" before we head back to the beginning again.
Thanks!
We also read a non-fiction book from the list in Bigger about the San Francisco Earthquake. And I think there's another one listed in the girl interest pack about If Your Name was Changed at Ellis Island.
). My son can do it if he wants, but it sounds as though he will be fine if he goes through Preparing next year and depending on how we do things, he may even use the Modern Age guide for his 9th grade year.