Suggested
Grade Levels

K = Kindergarten
(Picture Books)

E = Elementary:
Grades 1-3
(detailed Picture Books
& easy reading)

E-UE = (books for
younger, fluent readers)

UE = Upper Elementary:
Grades 4-6

JH = Junior High:
Grades 6-8

HS = High School:
Grades 9-12

+ = "and up"

Click here for
DISCOUNT prices
on a wide selection
of homeschool resources!

History Activities & Crafts -- America

Need a craft to go along with your history theme?
Find lots of suggestions here, most of which are absolutely FREE.

Please e-mail us with any links to add to this collection!

American Crafts: General Topics
Pre-1600's
1600's
1700's
1800's
1900's

Get pre-printed "notebooking" ideas from Hold That Thought
for both World & American History!
Order through this link and get FREE shipping!

AMERICAN HISTORY

AMERICA: General Topics

Presidents
Click here for nicely detailed coloring pages of all American presidents!

Activities Spanning the Years
Interactive 3-D Maps: American History: Easy-to-Assemble 3-D Maps That Students Make and Manipulate to Learn Key Facts and Concepts--in a Kinesthetic Way! by Donald M. Silver and Patricia J. Wynne. Scholastic, 2005.
Reproducible activities to illustrate important events.

Celebrate the 4th of July with these patriotic craft ideas from Artists Helping Children.

Professor Noggin's History of the United States Card Game

AMERICA: pre-1600's

Incans, Aztecs, and Mayans
Make a South American rain stick.

These coloring pages on the Ancient Aztecs are phenomenal!

American Indians/Native Americans See category below.

Explorers

History Pockets, Explorers of North America, Grades 4-6
You will love these books (it's a series)!
Lots of photocopiable, informative projects to make.
Most of the finished products will fit in a notebook.

Hands-On America Vol. 1: Art Activities About Vikings, Explorers, Woodland Indians and Colonial Life by Yvonne Young Merrill, illus. Mary Simpson. Kits Publishing, 2001. E-JH
Projects are based on authentic artifacts!

Professor Noggin's Explorers Card Game

Make a Spanish Galleon out of a milk carton.

AMERICA: 1600's

American Indians/Native Americans
See Hands-On America Vol. 1: Art Activities About Vikings, Explorers, Woodland Indians and Colonial Life above.

History Pockets, Native Americans, Grade 1-3 (History Pockets) by Karen Lowther. Evan-Moor.
You will love these books (it's a series)! Lots of photocopiable, informative projects to make. Most of the finished products will fit in a notebook.

Northeast Indians: Reproducible Models That Help Students Build Content Area Knowledge and Vocabulary and Learn About the Traditional Life of Native American Peoples (Easy Make & Learn Projects) by Donald M. Silver and Patricia J. Wynne. Scholastic, 2005.

Southwest Indians: Reproducible Models That Help Students Build Content Area Knowledge and Vocabulary and Learn About the Traditional Life of Native American Peoples (Easy Make & Learn Projects) by Donald M. Silver and Patricia J. Wynne. Scholatic, 2005.

Make a Native American Drum! Or go to this TeachersFirst site for instructions on a cornhusk doll, pinch pot, dream catcher, weaving, and authentic recipes!

This resource has instructions for a Native American headdress and shirt, as well as recipes for authentic foods. The instructions outline an entire day of activities celebrating Native American heritage.

Find an Indian vest made out of a paper grocery bag and a headdress, too.

Try Native American Sand Painting!

Coil Baskets were made long ago by many ancient cultures, including Native Americans.

Professor Noggin First Peoples of North America Card Game

Moccasins can be made out of paper or click here for detailed instructions on making a one-piece moccasin out of leather (or suede fabric).

Pilgrims & Thanksgiving
History Pockets, Life in Plymouth, Grades 1-3 (History Pockets) by Jill Norris & Sandi Johnson. Evan-Moor.
You will love these books (it's a series)! Lots of photocopiable, informative projects to make. Most of the finished products will fit in a notebook.

Make Pilgrim place cards out of juice boxes!

Make Pilgrim hats for boys and others for girls!

AMERICA: 1700's

Colonial Life
Try your hand at making colonial candles or Pomander Balls or a Horn Book or a Quill Pen or a Rag Doll with the easy directions at this site. A separate site gives instructions for a Nettie Doll, which is a rag doll constructed in a similar fashion to a cornhusk doll.

Jacob's Ladder & Whirlygig toys are often sold in historical souvenir shops. Make yours with these instructions!

Try your skills at Marbles or the Game of Graces.

See Hands-On America Vol. 1: Art Activities About Vikings, Explorers, Woodland Indians and Colonial Life above.

Make a punched tin decoration to imitate the early American lanterns or candle sconces.

Make your own quill pen and practice writing with washable ink!

The Dutch used windmills in New Amsterdam (the future New York), and other colonies such as Williamsburg had them, too. Copy this pattern onto cardstock to make one yourself!

History Pockets, Colonial America, Grades 4-6 (History Pockets) by Marc Tyler Nobleman. Evan-Moor.
You will love these books (it's a series)! Lots of photocopiable, informative projects to make. Most of the finished products will fit in a notebook.

Colonial America (Easy Make & Learn Projects): 18 Fun-to-Create Reproducible Models that Bring the Colonial Period to Life by Donald M. Silver and Patricia J. Wynne. Scholastic, 2002.
Our favorite projects were a 3-D Jamestown, and a Look-Inside Log Cabin. Everything can be made from paper (or cardstock).

Founding Fathers & Government
Conduct 4 different experiments similar to what the amazing scientist and inventor Ben Franklin did.

This simple craft illustrates the first President's Cabinet in a way that a child can understand and remember. FREE from A Book In Time!

Kids can make Abraham Lincoln or George Washington by cutting out shapes from construction paper or craft foam. The patterns are very inexpensive and are available for immediate download! The flag and the American eagle are also options!

Revolutionary War
This paper soldiers site includes ships and soldiers from both American and British regiments (Look under the 18th Century heading.)

Professor Noggin's American Revolution Card Game

AMERICA: 1800's

War of 1812
All Hands on Deck is a fabulous classroom resource on "Old Ironsides." Be sure to check out the DVD/Video offered free to teachers (or view it online).

Slavery & Plantations
Demonstrate the value of Eli Whitney's cotton gin by giving each student a cotton boll so they can experience pulling out all the seeds by hand.

Abraham Lincoln
Make Lincoln's tall, black stovepipe hat.

Log cabin crafts range from a more difficult cabin to a very simple.

Kids can make Abraham Lincoln by cutting out shapes from construction paper or craft foam. The patterns are very inexpensive and available for immediate download!

Civil War
Print and cut out paper Civil War soldiers.

Check out these instructions for a Buckingham Palace guard, and use the same construction ideas to make your own clothespin Civil War soldiers. (Clothespin dolls were popular at the time of the Civil War.)

Professor Noggins Civil War Trivia Game

Frontier Life
Try your hand at making candles or a Horn Book or a Quill Pen or a Rag Doll with the easy directions at this site.

Get instructions for a Nettie Doll, which is a rag doll constructed in a similar fashion to cornhusk dolls. Or try your hand at making a Clothespin Doll.

Inventors
Print out a coloring and activity book on George Washington Carver.

Make a Paddle Steamboat as you study Robert Fulton! Print, cut, and assemble!

Featured in our Newsletter!
Demonstrate the value of Eli Whitney's cotton gin by giving each student a cotton boll so they can experience pulling out all the seeds by hand. Pair this activity with the "Lift & Look" plantation in Colonial America (Easy Make & Learn Projects): 18 Fun-to-Create Reproducible Models that Bring the Colonial Period to Life for a complete hands-on project!

Gold Rush
The kids will love panning for gold! The Mineral Information Institute offers kits for individual or classroom use.

Westward Expansion
History Pockets, Moving West, Grades 4-6 by Martha Cheney. Evan-Moor.
You will love these books (it's a series)! This title includes "pockets" on missionaries, Native American struggles, the Oregon Trail, and the Gold Rush. Lots of photocopiable, informative projects to make. Most of the finished products will fit in a notebook.

Make a covered wagon from construction paper or craft foam with this pattern.

Statue of Liberty
Click here to print, cut, and paste together a paper Statue of Liberty. Or click here for one that might be slightly simpler. This is an attractive, preprinted Liberty Star to cut and fold.

AMERICA: 1900's

World Wars
Find paper soldiers to print and cut out. Includes specific figures for warriors and soldiers throughout history, including both world wars.

Click here for a paper model of a tank to cut out and put together.

Presidents & U.S. Government
Click here for a paper model of the Capitol Building.

Cut and paste together this simple model of Mt. Rushmore.

Use ribbon and small gold bells to make a President's Day wind chime.

Make a paper model of the White House.