This year, I created my own US History homeschool curriculum for my eighth grade son. Here is a list of all the books he read, or will be reading this year.
Weeks that books were read are listed next to each title. Schedule is based upon a 36 week year. I also included historical fiction books my son read in English/Language Arts that correspond with period of history studied.
- Before Columbus by Charles C Mann (wk 1-5)
- Turtle Island by Eldon Yellowhorn (wk 2-4)
- Blood on the River by Elisa Carborne (wk 4-5) Historical Fiction Read in ELA
- The History of US by Joy Hakim (wk 6-36) 11 Book set, used sporadically, don’t recommend
- Young People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn (wk 6-36) highly recommend
- One Dead Spy by Nathan Hale (wk 9) Graphic Novel read for fun
- Shh, We’re Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz (week 10)
- King George by Steve Sheinkin (wk 12-13) for younger readers, but my son LOVES these
- My Name is James Madison Hemings by John Winter (wk 14)
- It Happened in Oregon by James Crutchfield (wk 15-19)
- Which Way to the Wild West by Steve Sheinkin (wk 17- 24) highly recommend
- Bound for Oregon by Jean Van Leeuwen (wk 17-18) Historical Fiction Read in ELA
- Two Miserable Presidents by Steve Sheinkin (wk 19-22) highly recommend
- Harriet Tubman by Ann Petry (wk 18-20) Historical Fiction Read in ELA
- Call of the Wild by Jack London (wk 23) Historical Fiction Read in ELA
- A Different Mirror for Young People by Ronald Takani (wk 24-36) didn’t read every chapter, could have started earlier in year
- Red Cloud by SD Nelson (wk 25)
- Wheels of Change by Sue Macy (wk 27)
- Treaties, Trenches, Mud & Blood by Nathan Hale (wk 28) Recommend entire series
- Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor (wk 30-31) Historical Fiction Read in ELA
- The Great American Dust Bowl by Don Brown (wk 31)
- Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston (wk 32-33) Historical Fiction – ELA
- Civil Rights Movement by Steven Kasher (wk 34-35)
New Schooling 