Teaching History WITHOUT Curriculum! | Favorite History Books for Homeschool

Did you know that you DO NOT need curriculum to give your kids a solid foundation in history? It's true! Today, I'm sharing some of our favorite books for learning about history in a fun and engaging way in our homeschool - without curriculum or textbooks!
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🔗 Links for ALL the Books!
Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess: amzn.to/447a27y
If You Grew Up With Abraham Lincoln: amzn.to/3PzbZ8b
If You Traveled West In A Covered Wagon: amzn.to/3CLimxH
Life in Colonial America Coloring Book: amzn.to/46rNO1i
The Last Safe House: A Story of the Underground Railroad: amzn.to/46mNpNM
Gold Rush Fever: A Story of the Klondike, 1898: amzn.to/3r8kVag
A Pioneer Sampler: The Daily Life of a Pioneer Family in 1840: amzn.to/435GB4a
Great Battles for Boys - Korean War: amzn.to/46n6AqJ
DK Eyewitness Books: North American Indian: amzn.to/42ZfB6A
DK Eyewitness: Ancient Egypt: amzn.to/3PxgIag
Archimedes and the Door of Science: amzn.to/3CPprNv
Herodotus and the Road to History: amzn.to/3pqDiqC
Galen and the Gateway to Medicine: amzn.to/3NLr3hD
George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans: amzn.to/3NPMWwf
William Carey: Obliged to Go: amzn.to/46pTj0r
Of Courage Undaunted: Across the Continent with Lewis & Clark: amzn.to/3PwFF5K
The Magna Charta: amzn.to/3r8msx2
Abraham Lincoln: amzn.to/3CMV0I3
Abraham Lincoln's World: amzn.to/3NwU2V4
George Washington's World: amzn.to/3NOWCqV
History Timeline Notebook: amzn.to/3NPLcTO
The Civil War: A Visual History: amzn.to/3PutHcP
History of the World Map by Map: amzn.to/440zNpW
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Volume II: amzn.to/44fhsVC
A Patriot's History of the United States: amzn.to/44bX1Jo
John Adams: amzn.to/43Zug2Z
Grant: amzn.to/3qWo0ds
Churchill: Walking with Destiny: amzn.to/3PBdjr5
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Hi friends! I’m Erin. I’m a homeschooling mom to 4 kids and we’re in our 8th year of this homeschool lifestyle. I love to share videos with tips about things we’ve learned along the way that have helped me out, as well as curriculum reviews and some heartfelt homeschool inspiration. I hope you leave here feeling encouraged that YOU CAN DO THIS!
Thanks for checking out my channel!
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* THIS VIDEO IS NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN, IT IS DIRECTED AT ADULTS.*
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[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Thanks for watching today! Do you have any favorite history books or resources? Please share! ❤

[@libertycoffeehouse3944]

I think it is important for parents to understand how our history has been changed on purpose. Let's start in the 1800's. You have probably heard of Horace Mann. His wife was from the Peabody banking family. The Peabody Foundation financed the Prussian system being implemented in the United States. In Germany, it was designed to produce obedient soldiers. In the US, it was designed to produce obedient workers. Later, Carenegie, Rockefeller started their Foundations with the advice of Frederick T. Gates who was recommended by the Schiff Banking family. John Dewey worked for the Carnegie Foundation. They pushed for the Progressive system to replace classical education at the University level. They reasoned it would be easier to take away our freedoms if they dumbed us down. The Founders thought it was important that the common people could read, write and do arithmetic and that citizens had a strong background in history as this would prepared you for a republican form of government. However, Classical Education used to dominate the private schools and universities and also spilled over into the one room school house. I would recommend a Classical Education. This means your child would read the greatest thinkers in Western Civilization. In history, Herodotus, Thucidides, Livy, Sallust, Julius Ceaser, Tacitus, Plutarch, Cicero, Seutonious, Pliny, Trajan, and Quintillion. If your child is younger, I would choose Dorothy Mills. I think Memoria press puts out books on classical history. Then as your child is a teenager they would read the great books in western civilization. Do not use Memoria Press, for American History it is not so good. With American history everything is infested with the Harry Jaffas proposition nation and social history. I will have to think about this. Today, American History has become so agenda based. It is controlled by the billionaire class. In the progressive education they emphasize teaching techniques. When you read the great books, your teachers are the greatest thinkers in the Western world. Your teacher would be Aristotle and Plato. One teaches respect for our ancestors and our culture and allows you to see how one thinkers ideas built off previous thinkers. It produces people like Thomas Jefferson. The progressive education produces Captain Underpants. 😂

[@HistoryfortheAges]

I am a History professor. I put all my lectures on my channel as a free resource for homeschoolers!!!

[@Jproctor43]

My go to booklist for history is Sonlight! I used Sonlight for History with my two older children and there was never a historical fiction book that we didn't LOVE. More recently, I came across the author Steve Sheinkin for history books for Junior High and Highschool, they are so engaging and his use of Primary Resources is top notch.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Yes! Sonlight has great books! I haven’t heard of the other one you mentioned, I’ll have to check into that. Thanks for sharing!

[@purpledol8455]

I LOVED this video! This is how we homeschool. We use a curriculum for math, spelling, and grammar. Everything else we teach through living books. I would LOVE a video about the historical fiction books you use. I always try to find a fictional book that ties into the unit we are studying.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Love it!! Sounds like we are very similar!

[@lizluscomb]

@@TheEclecticHomeschooler I second this request for a fiction followup video or blog post!

[@stephaniedougherty7845]

⁠@@TheEclecticHomeschooler have just completed my first year of homeschooling full time and recently told my husband that this is how I want to do history. I did a session on Baroque Music/ Art/ some history with my 3,5 and 8 year old and they loved it and remember so much! And yes, please follow up with a video on fiction!

[@938quilt]

I've recently been watching homeschool videos for the book recommendations (no kids and I'm 56!) I'm very weak in history and am enjoying Dear America (historical fiction), Christian Heroes then and now/Heroes of History, Trail Blazers

[@addiegonzalez]

Officially starting to homeschool my daughter this school year. She'll be in kindergarten. Love all your recommendations. Please do share your list of fiction books. 📚 😊

[@joidavis5210]

Love these suggestions! Thanks Erin!

[@juliequates9529]

Great resources loved hearing your personal recommendations

[@emily-lifeonaranch7093]

Totally loves this mama. Happy homeschooling and thank you for the links❤️

[@taylorstiles4957]

This video is so helpful!! Thank you!!

[@cfoster0212]

I LOVE when I get on here and you have a new video up. This one is so so helpful for me. All of my kids are in the Elementary years or younger but I have this internal struggle with history. It was my least favorite class, and I rarely paid attention. I was public schooled and I am determined to do history in a way that is more natural and that my kids can really find a love for learning about all the parts of history. Since I am new to homeschooling (this coming year will be our 2nd full year) and I struggle myself with history, this is video will be an incredibly valuable resource for me. THANK YOU!

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

I’m so blessed to hear that! Glad this was helpful! ❤️

[@brettelizabethspore]

Thank you for sharing middle and high school options as well as links. Great video.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

My pleasure!

[@crystaljordan7318]

This is my favorite type of video! I would love to know the historical fiction read aloud your family has enjoyed also!❤ Basically any book video you want to make. 😂

[@christafox9908]

Thank you for doing this! We are starting to hit history this coming year and I've been really unsatisfied with the "curriculum" I have found and already started piecing together my own - this is really great additions to what I've started!

[@belindacoffin9413]

Oh how I miss being a homeschool mama. Love, love, loved teaching and learning with my kids.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Yes! I’m so thankful for all the memories we are building and will get to keep as they grow! ❤️

[@kristina7901]

Thank you I’ve learned a-lot through you today. I also got both of the Twin Tuttle history books.. love them ❤️❤️ new subscriber here.. im gonna check out the rest of your videos..

[@Squiggsish]

Thank you for this video. I would love to hear how you pull of these together. Do you plan what time period you're going to cover, and what does that entail? Do you do it chronologically? Do you assign writing tasks or narrations in addition to the book of centuries? I love to combine our history and literacy (language arts) and would love to know if you do this, too. Thank you!

[@Ahomeontheprairies]

Thanks for sharing these! I'd love a historical fiction video also :) we have been doing a similar approach to history and it is very enjoyable!

[@deannaelliott5523]

Thank you for all the great book ideas...adding several from your Amazon links.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

You’re welcome! 📚

[@giselleroman2140]

Literally JUST starting homeschool with Kindergarten, but love this way of learning history. Beautiful way to drive into history without a curriculum which would honestly sound boring.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Oh yay! Kindergarten is the perfect time to learn through play and just enjoy time together exploring and reading lots of fun books! Wishing you an amazing year!

[@libertycoffeehouse3944]

For high school history, I would recommend Brion Mclanahan. He has the Brion Mclanahan Academy on line. He has classes that teach you primary documents. You will get a better history from him than any University Professor you could pay for at a University. He teaches American History from a constitutional perspective. He will give you an intellectually honest class without hidden agenda. I have a degree in history and I learned so much from him.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Thanks for sharing!

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@NickyLindolls]

Loved this video. I’m going to watching it through again and put all these books on my must have list. We love the turtle twins. But haven’t gotten their history books yet. I’m collecting things slowly. Not much room left on the shelves. 😅

[@ReiverGrad14]

You should look into the American Story the Beginnings by David Barton for your High Schooler.

[@laurimuse1390]

Do more like this!!

[@jellib.110]

YWAM's George Mueller is definitely my family's favorite too! Adoniram Judson, our least fave, but we're still going through so many of these. They're fabulous!

[@letthespiritlive]

Genieve Foster can be used for high-school.

[@constancejackson7986]

I love the Tuttle Twins!

[@Dreblueskies]

Me too!

[@barbaraburr1310]

Book recommendation Tad Lincoln’s Father by Julia Taft Bayne It is written from the view point of the Lincoln’s family friends. Abraham Lincoln by Tanya Lee Stone It is a small book that is a photo biography

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Thanks for sharing!

[@michellespriggs7789]

We went thought Patriot’s History in college. There is a companion with American docs in it. I kept them and find myself flipping through them regularly.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

That’s so great!! 🇺🇸

[@timothyhelm437]

This is my dream way of teaching history!!! But i am a avid reader and love history. My sons do not like to read or really show interest in history, but i plod on and make them "learn" and read. I try to choose books that they might find interesting and fun. Thank you for sharing your recommendations. I love the timeline journal & will look into getting that!! I keep hoping to spark the interest of my 12 year old with SOMEthing!!! 🥴 Liz

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Have they tried the Great Battles for Boys books or the I Survived books? My boys have loved those!

[@timothyhelm437]

@TheEclecticHomeschooler I have tried to get those through my local library because we are on a very tight budget, and so far, the waiting list has been extremely long (12-15 holds placed!) But I have not given up & hope to be able to use them in our homeschool at some point! I keep looking for them at used sales as well. Thanks so much! ~Liz

[@katsbookstack6234]

Hi! I am loving your videos. I will be homeschooling my 5th and 7th grader this year. Do you recommend world/US history to begin? What is a good place to start year wise- Columbus discovering ect. Would love a direction to begin in! I plan on doing the timeline books too!!

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Personally, I’d say to start with whatever time period they’re interested in! People generally cycle back around at some point and go through most of the time periods at least twice. I do think it’s more important to have a good understanding of American history vs world history, both both are important to cover at some point!

[@Randibunny]

Do you have any world history recommendations

[@sarahscheenstra7]

How do you find living books for early elementary?

[@vickih5405]

what's the likelihood of linking your top? The print and neckline are AMAZING!!

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

It’s a dress I got on Jane! Love it! jane.com/deal/2087466/bright-rustic-floral-printed-v-neck-maxi-dress

[@ReiverGrad14]

Do you have any suggestions for a book about the 50 states thar has facts and pictures but is for Middle School? I have the US Atlas book but I need another resource. I have seen the 50 states book but I want I have a 6th grader. Ps.. the Smithsonian American History book... Amazing! Thanks for the recommendation!

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Glad you have enjoyed the American History book! We have enjoyed this state book in our home. Says it's for ages 10-14. It has the states split by regions as far as how they are listed. There are a few photos, a couple pages of state history & info, a map, and list of stats (population, capital, land area, ethnic groups, industry, etc.) about each state. amzn.to/3OSahNp

[@mignonbaricevic36]

Do you do any written work or worksheets to go with it? Here where I am they want to see written content for primary and I am trying to focus on the 3 Rs and keep things simple for the other subjects. We have 6 compulsory subjects

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

I don’t do worksheets. My kids that are old enough do written narrations probably once a week to write about what they learned about in their reading. I would think something like that would qualify as written content for you, but make sure to check and see since that’s a requirement for you.

[@merjoy85]

Hi there! I have a kindergartener and a 2nd grader this year. How do you organize the books above? As in, do you go in any particular order?

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Not necessarily... We often go by kids interest! Many people cycle through a chronological order, and we roughly do that, but take time to pause and dig in more when our kids express interest in a certain time period. :)

[@allisonward6621]

Hi! I can't remember if you did a video showing the Timeline notebooks?

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

I haven’t done a full video just about them I just highlighted them here and in my older day in the life video about how I teach 4 kids. Honestly, I wish we were better about using them because they are super cool, but I tend to forget about them… 😅

[@allisonward6621]

@TheEclecticHomeschooler are they completely blank inside or are there dates already?

[@elizabethlelchuk1798]

Hello! Could you please link your Timeline book? Thanks!

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

You bet! It’s in the description, but here you go in case you didn’t see it! ☺️ History Timeline Notebook: amzn.to/3NPLcTO

[@redeemedmama6768]

Are you guys stopping AGF?

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

We never finished the whole year, partly since we started late, and partly because I can never seem to stick to anything! 😅 We will still be using some of the plans and definitely a lot of the book suggestions! It's a great curriculum!