Last year, in homeschool, we studied The Revolutionary War, the ENTIRE time. It was awesome and we learned a ton (yes, me too!) Because we went through lots and lots of books and movies about the Revolutionary War, we found some that we absolutely loved, and some… not so much. I thought it would be fun to share our very favorite educational Revolutionary War for elementary school age students. Maybe they will help you in your homeschool or classroom too!
Revolutionary War Books for Elementary Students
I love the ‘Who Was… ‘ books! We read ‘Who Was Thomas Jefferson?,’ ‘Who Was George Washington?,’ and ‘Who Was Ben Franklin?‘ during the year and they were all great. They’re a great way to introduce the kids to the historical person and time period, before delving into more advanced books or movies. We usually start the school year out with a couple of these books.
Phoebe the Spy is a fun one. It’s based on a true story, although some of the facts are disputed. Either way, it gives the reader some insight into the scary situations that George Washington was often found in, trying to stay safe from assassins. My kids loved this one and are hoping that one day they’ll get to visit the old tavern talked about in the book, found in New York City.
Magic Tree House – Revolutionary War on Wednesday was perfect for my 7 year old, but it would work for older kids too. She was having a hard time understanding some of the historical fiction novels we were reading, so we were able to read this book together, to help her understand the basics of the Revolutionary War in a fun way.
My Brother Sam is Dead was SUCH a good book. My boys, ages 9 and 11 (at the time), really got into it. It did such a good job of making the reader think about all sides of the war. The patriots weren’t always good and the loyalists weren’t always bad. It was a complex issue and one that was so good to share with the kids.
If You Lived at the Time of the American Revolution is written in question and answer form. I’ve found that to be really effective in teaching the kids, so I’m a fan of these books. It takes all the basic questions that someone would likely ask, regarding the Revolution, and answers them in a way that’s easy to understand.
What kid doesn’t love a good time-travel story? George Washington’s Socks is just that and a great historical fiction novel! A group of friends are transported back in time to the day before the Battle of Trenton, to learn about the realities of war. They have run ins with the Hessian soldiers, patriots, and even George Washington, himself.
It’s always fun to have an activity book to shake up our reading days. This Colonial Kids Activity Guide had great projects and recipes for kids, to help them get a feel for life in the colonies.
This was a book that we didn’t spend any time reading, but my boys loved to look through it, checking out all the ‘Uniforms from The American Revolutionary War.’ I couldn’t believe how many different uniforms there was!
Remember ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ books?? Well, this fun series is just like them, but educational and historical! My kids have so much fun with these. And, when you can read a book over and over, with different results, that’s an extra bonus. The Revolutionary War: An Interactive History Adventure is perfect for your time studying this war.
There’s always two sides to every story, right? This book is not only super educational, but it also offers a great teaching opportunity to encourage kids to examine all sides, for a more complete picture. George vs. George: The American Revolution As Seen from Both Sides
I always feel like we can never have enough historical fiction in our homeschool library. Patriots, Redcoats, and Spies was such a great read, for all of us. It’s the compelling story of two boys trying to deliver a message for their deceased father, to George Washington.
Hope that gives you some ideas for some great products about The Revolutionary War! If you have any favorites, PLEASE share.
If you liked this homeschool post, check out:
- Favorite Products for Teaching Kids About the Civil War
- The Best Books for Teaching Kids About the Pilgrims and Thanksgiving
- 100 Clean Family Movies for Family Night
Crystal says
I love and have used most of the ones you suggested. Great list!!