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Curriculum Samples

2026-27 book lists by grade group

Use the quick links below to jump to each grade-band list.

Book purchasing note: Books should be purchased by the first day of class. Audio versions are encouraged when helpful.

Quick links

1st-3rd 4th-5th 6th-8th 9th-12th

Downloadable Curriculum Samples

These are sample week 2 documents provided for family review.

1st-3rd Book List

2026-27 School Year • American History I

Required K-3 Language Arts

  1. A Children’s Color Book of Jamestown — Pricilla Hunt
  2. Tattered Sails — Dan Andreasen
  3. Pilgrim Cat — Carol Antoinette Peacock
  4. The Story of the Pilgrims — Kathrine Ross
  5. Homespun Sarah — Verla Kay
  6. Sam the Minuteman — Nathaniel Benchley
  7. The Picture Book of Paul Revere — David A. Adler
  8. Hanukkah at Valley Forge — Stephen Krensky
  9. How Ben Franklin Stole Lightning — Rosalyn Schanzer
  10. The House that George Built — Suzanne Slade
  11. Mozart the Wonder Child — Diane Stanley
  12. The Boy Who Drew Birds — Jacquelin Davies
  13. Paul Bunyan — Steve Kellogg
  14. Sacajawea, Her True Story — (Penguin Young Readers Level 4)
  15. The Flag Maker — Susan Campbell Bartoletti
  16. Johnny Appleseed — Reeve Lindberg
  17. Easy Grammar 1 (continue through the second half of the book)

Required 1-3 History

  1. America’s Story Student Book Volume 1 — Angela O’Dell
  2. If You Were a Kid in the 13 Colonies — Wil Mara
  3. A world atlas or large USA and world map (recommended: National Geographic Kids Beginner’s World Atlas)
  4. Time Rimes — America I (optional hard copy available at registration)

Parents of Explorers should provide handwriting, phonics/beginner reading, and math curriculum. Add spelling as desired beyond this curriculum.

4th-5th Book List

2026-27 School Year • American History I

Required Literature: Grades 4-5

  1. The Landing of the Pilgrims by James Daugherty — ISBN: 978-0394846972
  2. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Speare — ISBN: 978-0547550299
  3. Sarah Morton’s Day (girls) — ISBN: 978-0439812207 / Samuel Eaton’s Day (boys) — ISBN: 978-0590480536
  4. The Matchlock Gun by Walter Edmonds
  5. The Sign of the Beaver by Speare — ISBN: 978-0547577111
  6. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, adapted by Monica Kulling (Stepping Stones) — ISBN: 978-0679866688
  7. Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes — ISBN: 978-0547614328
  8. The Captain’s Dog by Roland Smith — ISBN: 978-0152026967
  9. Easy Grammar 4
  10. Write With the Best, Vol. 1 by Jill J. Dixon

Required History

  1. America’s Story Student Book Volume 1 — Angela O’Dell
  2. If You Were a Kid in the 13 Colonies — Wil Mara
  3. A world atlas or large USA and world map (recommended: National Geographic Kids Beginner’s World Atlas)
  4. Time Rimes — America I (optional hard copy available at registration)

6th-8th Book List

2026-27 School Year • American History I

Required Literature: Grades 6-8

  1. The Landing of the Pilgrims — ISBN: 978-0394846972
  2. The Witch of Blackbird Pond — ISBN: 978-0547550299
  3. Sarah Morton’s Day (girls) — ISBN: 978-0439812207 / Samuel Eaton’s Day (boys) — ISBN: 978-0590480536
  4. The Matchlock Gun — ISBN: 978-0698116801
  5. The Sign of the Beaver — ISBN: 978-0547577111
  6. Les Miserables adapted by Monica Kulling — ISBN: 978-0679866688
  7. Johnny Tremain — ISBN: 978-0547614328
  8. The Captain’s Dog — ISBN: 978-0152026967
  9. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus
  10. Write With the Best, Vol. 1 by Jill J. Dixon
  11. Easy Grammar 7

Required History

  1. Everything You Need to Know About American History Homework — ISBN: 978-0545374712
  2. The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia (2004 Edition) — ISBN: 0753457849
  3. The History of US, Book 2 by Joy Hakim — ISBN: 978-0195327168
  4. The History of US, Book 3 by Joy Hakim — ISBN: 978-0195327175
  5. The History of US, Book 4 by Joy Hakim — ISBN: 978-0195327182
  6. Large blank history timeline book (or equivalent pre-printed option)
  7. National Geographic Student Atlas of the World, 3rd edition — ISBN: 9781426304460
  8. If You Lived at the Time of the American Revolution — ISBN: 978-0590674447
  9. If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution — ISBN: 978-0590451598
  10. Time Rimes — America I (optional hard copy available at registration)

9th-12th Book List

2026-27 School Year • American History I

Required Literature: Grades 9-12

  1. The Scarlet Letter (Kaplan SAT version) — ISBN: 9781607148654
  2. The Norton Anthology of American Literature (shorter 7th edition, 2008) — ISBN: 978-0393930573
  3. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy by Hirsch — ISBN: 9780618226474
  4. Writing a Research Paper: A Step by Step Approach — ISBN: 9780821581803
  5. Write With the Best, Vol. 2 by Jill J. Dixon
  6. Vocabulary Workshop, Level D, Achieve Edition
  7. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus
  8. Easy Grammar Ultimate

History: Grades 9-12

  1. Don’t Know Much About American History — ISBN: 978-0061960543
  2. Everything You Need to Know About American History Homework — ISBN: 978-0545374712
  3. How the States Got Their Shapes — ISBN: 978-0061431395
  4. The History of US, Book 2 — ISBN: 978-0195327168
  5. The History of US, Book 3 — ISBN: 978-0195327175
  6. The History of US, Book 4 — ISBN: 978-0195327182
  7. World History the Easy Way, Volume 2 — ISBN: 978-0812097665
  8. The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia (2004 Edition) — ISBN: 0753457849
  9. Large blank history timeline book (or equivalent pre-printed option)
  10. The Everything About American Government Book — ISBN: 1593370555
  11. National Geographic Student Atlas of the World, 3rd edition — ISBN: 9781426304460
  12. Time Rimes — America I (optional hard copy available at registration)

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