Reading with History D


Intro to American History, Year 1 of 2

**Customize your package with the Customize tab (below).

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Retail $619.59 Special Price $526.65
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B-DRH
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Age Range: 8-11 Grade Range: 3-5

Intro to American History, Year 1 of 2

**Customize your package with the Customize tab (below).

Payment Plans Now Available!

 Ships for FREE with fast, trackable shipping (lower 48 states).

  • Description
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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. Package includes the 15% off package pricing.


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.

Virtual

An optional online platform that enables students to access their reading schedules, take assessments, and receive instant auto-grading results. Parents can track and review student work, customize assessments, and message students directly from a computer or mobile device. 

If purchased in April, May or June of this year, access to Virtual can start as early as July 1st. You will be able to start on the date of your choice up to 6 months of purchase date. Virtual courses MUST be started within 6 months of purchase. You will have 12 months from the time of your start date to complete the course.

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

The OPTIONAL American History I - Lap Book Kit  can be added to this package under the Customize Tab above and is scheduled in the Instructor's Guide for your convenience.

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.

History
Read-Alouds
Regular Readers
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File Downloads
Scope & Sequence
Instructor's Guide, 3-Week Sample

One Set of Consumables is included with the package. To add consumables for another student please click here.

Is BookShark a History or a Reading program?

BookShark is both! We are a literature based program that teaches History through reading and listening. In Levels A-C, the focus of our program is on developing and strengthening reading ability. This is why we offer multiple Reader levels for the early packages. Beginning in Level D, however, the focus shifts from strengthening reading ability to building reading comprehension. From Level D up, we integrate the Reading, Read-Alouds, and Language Arts assignments with the History readings. Instead of learning to read, your children will be reading to learn!

What is the difference between Level D Regular Readers and Level D Advanced Readers?

The Level D Advanced Readers includes the Level D Regular Readers plus eight more books and a reading schedule adjusted to fit the extra material. The Advanced Readers are not written at a higher reading level, but they do require that the student read more pages per assignment than the Regular Level D Reader package. Here is a list of the additional books in the Level D Advanced Readers:

Naya Nuki
Tikta'Liktak
Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia
Mr. Revere and I
Stone Fox
The Story of Eli Whitney
The Thanksgiving Story
Corn Grows Ripe
Do the Readers integrate with the History reading?

Yes, they do! For Level D and up, all of our Readers were chosen because of how well they represent the topics and times you'll be studying in History readings. The Readers in this package also integrate with Language Arts assignments. This approach gives your student an opportunity to soak up subject matter in three different ways: by listening, by writing, and (of course) by reading!

Can I use this package with both of my children?

Yes, you can! If your children are within three years of age, they can share the same BookShark Reading with History package – including Read-Alouds, history books, the Timeline Book, and Timeline Figures. 

Not sure if this is the right fit? Please review the options below to find a package that will work for both of your children:


If there is more than a three year age difference between your children, we recommend that you purchase a separate package for each student.

Can I purchase the History program without the Readers?

We do not offer a History package without Readers because learning through reading is fundamental to our program. If you are certain that you do not want the Readers, you can add the History books and Read-Alouds to your cart individually. Please use the "what's included" tab on this package for reference.

What are the “Required Resources” and why are they required?

The Required Resources includes a big binder with 36 week tabs for your Instructor’s Guides, The Timeline Book, a reusable Markable Map, and a set of wet-erase markers. These resources will be reused in almost every level of our History program and can be shared by multiple students. You will be given the option to purchase these items every time you buy an All-Subject or Reading with History Package, but you only need to buy it once.

For more information on BookShark, please see our FAQs page.

The decision to homeschool our daughter, Alexa, was an easy one. Choosing a curriculum that worked well with her goals and schedule was a little more difficult.

Jenna Henning