In this 12-week class, students will learn the US history from 1775-1783. This is Part 6 of a series on US history. The series do not have to be completed in order; however, completing the series in order can be very beneficial to the students and the comprehension retention of what occurred and when. 

Students will write a summary paragraph after class about what they learned in class. This course is designed to learn some key facts about the birth of a new nation in US history. After class, each student will write a minimum of a five-sentence paragraph about the day's topic. This will help the students to practice their summary writing.

Students will read one non-fiction and one fiction book throughout the course. Students will have a list of books to choose from. At the end of the class, students will write a summary report on their chosen books. Here is the list of books to choose from:

Non-Fiction Books:

"Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories" by Ellen Levine
This book presents firsthand accounts from young people who participated in the Civil Rights Movement. It's an engaging way for middle school students to learn about this crucial period in American history through the eyes of people who were close to their age at the time.

"Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11" by Brian Floca
While this book focuses on a specific event, the Apollo 11 moon landing, it captures the excitement and technological achievements of the Space Race, a significant aspect of the Cold War era. The detailed illustrations and accessible text make it suitable for middle school readers.

"The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage" by Todd Gitlin (Adapted for Young Readers)
If an adapted version for young readers exists, this book provides a comprehensive look at the tumultuous 1960s, covering topics like the Vietnam War, counterculture, and social movements.

"We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball" by Kadir Nelson
This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of the Negro Leagues, providing insight into racial segregation in sports and its eventual integration. It covers a significant aspect of post-war American social history.

"The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain" by Peter Sís
This autobiographical picture book offers a unique perspective on the Cold War, telling the author's story of growing up in Communist Czechoslovakia. It's accessible for middle school readers while dealing with complex historical themes.

Fiction Books:

"The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963" by Christopher Paul Curtis
This historical fiction novel follows an African American family's trip to Birmingham in 1963, coinciding with the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. It provides a personal perspective on the Civil Rights Movement.

"Inside Out & Back Again" by Thanhha Lai
This novel in verse tells the story of a young Vietnamese girl who flees to America after the Fall of Saigon. It offers insight into the refugee experience and the aftermath of the Vietnam War.

"Countdown" by Deborah Wiles
Set during the Cuban Missile Crisis, this novel combines a coming-of-age story with historical context, giving readers a sense of what it was like to live during the height of Cold War tensions.

"One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia
This award-winning novel is set in 1968 and follows three sisters who travel to Oakland, California, where they become involved with the Black Panther movement. It offers a child's-eye view of a turbulent time in American history.

"Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech
While not explicitly historical, this Newbery Medal-winning novel, set in the 1990s, touches on themes of family, loss, and identity that resonate with the changing social landscape of late 20th century America.

These books offer a diverse range of perspectives on post-war America and the modern era. They cover key historical events and social movements, including the Civil Rights Movement, the Cold War, the Space Race, and the Vietnam War, as well as broader themes of social change, technological advancement, and evolving American identity.

By reading these books, middle school students can gain a more nuanced understanding of this complex period in American history. The mix of non-fiction and fiction allows students to engage with both factual information and personal narratives, helping them to connect emotionally with the historical events and understand their impact on individuals and society as a whole.

In addition, the students will be creating their own timeline throughout the course. After each class, the student will create that week's topic to be added to their final FlipBook project. For example, the week we learn about “US Constitution” the students will create this on their final project through whatever art supplies or other types of supplies they have on hand. 

During our 12th week, all students will present their final projects under the assignment tab or, at the very least, within one week of the conclusion of the class and will receive a certificate of completion after the final project has been turned in.


We will use different methods of interaction between the student and the teachers. These methods will include the classroom, Canva, Google Docs, and other relatable resources that would be beneficial each week. For example, students will be able to upload their weekly writing with Google Docs and the teacher can help with revisions, ideas, grammar, spelling, comments, etc. Another example would be using Nearpod where students can complete polls, quizzes, and slides to interact with the teacher.