Charlotte Mason: American History Ideas for Middle School

Welcome to A Mother’s Thinking Love: Living Ideas, Lovingly Shared! In my last post, I shared about a resource I use to help me plan how we will study each time period in history. In today’s post, I want to share some of the specific books we have used to study American History in middle school and the “why” behind those choices. Join me for: “Charlotte Mason: American History Ideas for Middle School”!

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American History Book Ideas for Middle School

For the purposes of this blog post, I chose three books that have been favorites for us in the study of American History in the middle school years. We have read many, many American history books, to be sure, but I chose these three books in particular for reasons I will share next.

• Diary of an Early American Boy by Eric Sloane – Based in the 1805, this book shares the actual diary of 15 year old Noah Blake. Author Eric Sloane adds commentary throughout to explain tools, habits, customs, and language of the time. Drawings and diagrams illustrate concepts that may be foreign to the modern reader.
• American Tall Tales by Adrien Stoutenburg – Every culture has its own tales and legends. This book shares the captivating stories of larger than life, famous American legends, like: Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, and John Henry. Illustrations are sparse, but you will be drawn in by the author’s brilliant storytelling. Also, this audiobook version is fantastic.
• Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain – Tom Sawyer is also set in the 1800s, which means it pairs wonderfully with the Diary of an Early American Boy. I’m quite sure Tom Sawyer needs no introduction from me, but I will share that it was my first time reading this American classic. I was surprised by how much we enjoyed this book. It lead to many interesting discussions in our home. We followed along with this audiobook version.

The Philosophy Behind the Choices

Although the book choices may seem to be random, I assure you they were not. These books were chosen with great intentionality on my part. I will share a bit on the “why” behind each book below. First, however, I want to share a quote from Charlotte Mason. In “A Philosophy of Education”, Charlotte Mason said this about creating a curriculum:

“three points must be considered:—

1. He requires much knowledge, for the mind needs sufficient food as much as does the body.
2. The knowledge should be various, for sameness in mental diet does not create appetite (i.e., curiosity).
3. Knowledge should be communicated in well-chosen language, because his attention responds naturally to what is conveyed in literary form”

This is a short, but representative, quote on Charlotte Mason’s philosophy. This is a list I keep on-hand while looking for books to use each year. As you read my “why”, consider Miss Mason’s wise words.

My Thought Process Behind Each Choice

Diary-style books are a favorite for us. The perspective makes each time period relatable to the reader. We find that we share the same struggles and triumphs of those who came before us. We can see a direct comparison in our day-to-day lives with the day-to-day lives of those in days gone by.

While tales and legends may not seem important, we have found them to be foundational in our studies of various cultures. In addition to being incredibly fascinating, they also hold the key to understanding references in other works. Authors will often lean on the common knowledge of these tales and legends to make comparisons to modern people and events. Without this shared knowledge, we can easily misunderstand those examples.

Classic works of literature, like Tom Sawyer, add immense richness to historical studies. They shape the thought of cultures and generations. Classic books also, indirectly, teach about the time period in which they are set. Rather than read a list of facts about what life was like in a given era, read a well-written, living literary work and watch the period come to life.

Some Practical Advice for Choosing Books

If you want to practice finding well-written, living, literary books, for all subjects, in your homeschool, here is an activity you can try. For the purposes of this post, we will imagine we are studying American history.

1. First, find an American history textbook. You can use one that you own, go to a library, or preview one on a website like Amazon. Choose a chapter for the time period you plan to study.
2. Then, find a living book option for that same time period. You can use this resource from Simply Charlotte Mason to help. Again, you can use a book you own, go to a library, or look for a free preview online.
3. Next, preferably side-by-side, read a chapter from each book. Think about which you find more interesting and engaging. Try to narrate, or tell back, what you read from each chapter. Consider which is easier to share about.
4. Repeat this same process for other time periods and subjects. Over time, you will develop an eye for finding living books.

I hope you have enjoyed “Charlotte Mason: American History Ideas for Middle School”! How do you choose books for your homeschool? Share in the comments below! If you aren’t currently following Charlotte Mason’s advice for using choosing living books for your homeschool, I encourage you to try to incorporate some. Start with just one and go from there.