Exploring Amazing All American History
An interactive journal activity using a great American text. As you read, you learn an overview of American history from Vikings to the presidents and everything in between…
Using this book and an inexpensive notebook, I created a fun printable that you can print, cut and number to put in the notebook. As you go chapter by chapter to follow along in the lesson.
Make it simple or complex – this is interactive and engaging as your child reads history. Making it fun is the name of the game – especially with elementary students.
My youngest 9 year old looks forward to his history each week when he can read and fill in and cut/paste to add in the details.
Free Printable Lessons 1-28 Below:
What this American History teaches…
This history book with lessons covers a wide range of general history in easy to read chapters. Each chapter is about 10 pages or less, with pictures and large print. Simply using Google images and the key concepts and phrases of each chapter, I created this activity from an idea I learned about at a teaching workshop. Many teachers make detailed “interactive notebooks” to learn about a subject chapter by chapter. My variation is simpler, but you can make it as complex and fun as you want.
Some sections in this basic template allow for pieces of fabric or ink, or textures to add some “flair to it”. Feel free to revise and add in more details. It depends on how much you want to interact with the notebook. Whether simple or complex, depending on your child’s age and skill, history can truly come alive with this interactive notebook and text.
From Vikings to Presidents…
What I love most about this text is that it’s broken into clear lessons with chapters that have dates and key concepts right on the first page. It also shows the years and main concepts both at the beginning and end of the chapter. The simple breakdown of the explorers’ travels and places they went are helpful for younger kids. I also like the side panels filled with engaging photos.
Whether you have a younger child or an older elementary student, this simple printable template to go with book allows for many variations and adaptations. Feel free to read along with your child or let them read and go through it themselves. Each child learns and understands differently. For our youngest, he’s very hands-on so we let him cut and paste, then ask questions as he reads.
Hope this little extra resource for history helps your child engage in history and bring it to life in a fun and interactive way!