American Girl History Units: Julie

Ironically, we started our American Girl History Units on a birthday...the birth of our nation...and we are ending it on one too...the birth of...well, ME. Fitting that the era we are looking at today is the one of my birth, the 70s. As our guest writer, Susan Mathis, points out, the 70s were a rather dark time in our country's past. But, as has been said...If we don't study history (and all its parts), we are doomed to repeat it. Because of some of the themes of this particular American Girl Series, many moms, myself included, have opted to forgo reading them...at least for a little while. But I encourage you to tuck Susan's thoughts away for future reference.

American Girl History Units: Molly

Today's series in our American Girl History Units brings us to a pivotal time in our nation's history. The United States was beginning to see growth and prosperity after the despairing years of the Great Depression. Then came the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor and, once again, America was deep in the trenches of hardship. As our guest writer, Susan Mathis, points out, the "Molly's" of the '40s would be in their 70s today and might still be alive to tell many heroic tales of men and women... and even children... who did their part to defend our country during WWII.

American Girl History Units: Kit

Welcome to another Friday of American Girl History Units. Today, Susan Mathis is sharing her thoughts on Kit. As my father was born at the very end of the Great Depression, the story of Kit has always interested me. I look forward to incorporating my own family history as I read this delightful series with my children.

American Girl History Units: Rebecca

It's American Girl History Unit time again! This week we are getting a glimpse at my own heritage with a young Jewish girl, Rebecca. My great-grandfather was a Jewish immigrant who came to this country to find his own "American dream". Although I did not grow up practicing any Jewish traditions, I have determined to incorporate some of this heritage into our celebrations. Reading Rebecca, given her Jewish descent, is a nice introduction to that culture.

American Girl History Units: Samantha

Welcome to another week of our American Girl History Units series. This week, Susan Mathis is leading us into the 20th century with a look at the life and times of Samantha. Sweetie Pea and I just had a mother/daughter night this past weekend and watched the movie Samantha. As usual, the movie version was not nearly as good as the books are, but it made for a fun girls' date!

American Girl History Units: Addy

Welcome to our ten-week-long American Girl History Unit Series. This week, Susan Mathis is introducing us to Addy. Our family read this entire series a couple of years ago after completing a very captivating Civil War study. All six books were a humbling look at life and the prejudices and hardships that free African-Americans faced at this time in our nation's history.

American Girl History Units: Kirsten

Welcome to another week of American Girl History Units. This week, Susan Mathis is sharing the life and times of Swedish-born Kirsten, a doll much loved around these parts. My little Sweetie Pea saved up for months in order to purchase her very own blonde-haired pioneer. Although she doesn't play with it as much these days, Kirsten still holds a special spot right next to her at bedtime.

If you are just joining us, be sure to head over and check out a few "before you begin" ideas Susan has shared for implementing American Girls in your homeschool history studies.

American Girl History Units: Marie Grace and Cecile

Welcome to week 4 of our ten-week American Girl History Units. Once again, Susan Mathis has joined us to share a look at New Orleans in 1853. With this particular book series, we are privileged to be introduced to not ONE, but TWO American Girls.

If you missed the introduction of our series and would like to learn how you can weave American Girl books into your own history studies, be sure to check out the helpful tips Susan shared in Week One.

American Girl History Units: Josefina

Today, on the 10-week American Girl History Unit Series, guest author Susan Mathis is sharing about an American Girl that I have yet to "meet." But after browsing through all the following unit study ideas, I am eager to explore life in the 1820s American Southwest through the eyes of the spirited Josefina.

American Girl History Units: Felicity

For the next 10 weeks, I will be sharing a series of history units based on the well-loved American Girl books. I hope you'll join me each Friday as guest writer and historian Susan Mathis provides wonderful companion activities for each historical doll and their story.

If you missed last Wednesday's launch post, be sure to skip over to read a few introductory thoughts about organizing an American Girl Doll History curriculum and to meet KAYA.

American Girl History Units: Kaya

I am excited to launch a 10-week-long series of American Girl History Units written by guest writer, Susan Mathis. Each Friday, please join us for an in-depth look at one of the girls and her moment in American history.

In celebration of the birth of our great nation, Susan is offering up a bonus unit featuring Kaya, a collection of stories based on our very first AMERICANS.

Written by Susan Mathis.

As a historian and big fan of American Girl Dolls, I am grateful for this opportunity to share some ideas on how to design a year-long study of American history based on the dolls and their books. In general, this study would be appropriate for any girls who would be able and inclined to read the books, i.e., upper elementary school.

A Few Tips Before You Begin

Invest in a timeline and outline map of America. Both of these items can be printed off the internet.

Check out www.americangirl.com for books, as well as educational materials to supplement your study. These are available in the “Play” section of the site. You can also purchase books, crafts, stickers, etc. from Amazon, most bookstores, and Michaels. 

Plan on spending about 3-4 weeks on each character, depending on how much you are enjoying that particular era. 

To make it through this study in one school year, your daughter should read at least two books per week. If this is not enough, she can also read some of the short stories, too. 

When possible, visit the places you are studying, or similar ones.

Kaya is unique among American Girl dolls because she is Native American. As you study her life, consider that she would still be surprised at the sight of a European person in her part of the world.

Week 1

Mark Kaya’s home on the map. Explain that, unlike later girls, we don’t know exactly where Kaya lived. In fact, she probably didn’t have homes in the traditional sense, since the Nez Perce were a nomadic people who moved around to follow hunting opportunities.

Find 1764 on the Timeline, as well as 1754, the year Kaya was born. Check the internet to find other events happening in America around that time. The most significant of these for Kaya would have been the increasing number of European settlers coming to the Northwest.

Choose a craft to work on while you’re studying Kaya. Consider either a leather craft or beading, both of which would have been popular among the Nez Perce. Remind your daughter that beads would have been very valuable and obtained by trading with European settlers.

Week 2

Introduce your daughter to other famous Americans of that era, including the Founding Fathers and their wives, as well as explorers like Lewis and Clark. Locate their homes on the map and their lives and important contributions on the timeline. Remind your daughter that Kaya would not have heard of these people, except perhaps for Lewis and Clark, who came through the Northwest when Kaya was much older.

Have your daughter(s) choose a scene or event from one of the books to act out with her siblings.

Week 3

Animals were a very important part of Kaya’s life. Have your daughter consider how the life of your pet is different from that of the animals in Kaya’s tribe.

Read one or more of the mystery books to supplement your study.

Help your daughter make either a dish or a meal featuring items the Nez Perce would have enjoyed.

More American Girl History Units to Explore

Kaya
Felicity
Josefina
Grace & Cecile
Kirsten
Addy
Samantha
Rebecca
Kit
Molly
Julie

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Susan Mathis is the homeschooling mom of three children and a large number of American Dolls. She also joins her husband's blog, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Holiness.