Indentured in America
by Corinne Brown
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
Charles is a young boy sold into servitude when his parents die coming to America. He befriends a slave, Henry, and together, they learn the value of sacrifice for that which they value most-their own freedom. A sailor, Adam, risks his freedom to help them achieve theirs.
Exploring the New World
by Wendy Conklin
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
From the Vikings to Henry Hudson, the great explorers sailed across uncharted waters during the Age of Discovery in search of many things, including adventure and wealth. Their exploration not only changed maps of the world but also paved the way for the settlement of the New World.
Causes of the Revolution
by Jill K. Mulhall
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
Great Britain passed the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, which made colonists angry. Eventually they boycotted and refused to purchase British goods. Great Britain sent soldiers to the colonies, which caused conflict like the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine helped convince people that they were no longer British citizens. The foundation for the American Revolution had been laid.
The Constitution and the Bill of Rights
by Roben Alarcon
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
After problems developed with the Articles of Confederation, America's leaders wrote the U.S. Constitution. Although our founding fathers were happy with their work on the Constitution, it was missing an important part. The Bill of Rights was soon added to protect individual American rights.
Phillis Wheatley
by Emily R. Smith
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
Phillis Wheatley was the first black person in America to have a book published, opening the door for other black writers and female authors. She was kidnapped and brought to the colonies as a child and served as a slave to a family in Boston. Phillis learned to read and write at a young age.
Early American Indian Tribes
by Marie Patterson
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
The American Indian culture consisted of specific customs and traditions that regulated everything from who would lead the tribes to who would marry within the tribes. They kept precise, detailed accounts of their tribal histories because they foresaw the importance of passing down their histories.
Life in the Colonies
by Emily R. Smith
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
The colonies were the birthplace of the United States and they were made up of people that came from various backgrounds seeking religious freedom, wealth, and success. Daily life for the colonists was different depending on the region in which they lived, yet they established a united nation built on freedom and the pursuit of happiness.
The Reveres
by Suzanne Lieurance
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
In The Reveres: A Family Forced Apart, Paul Revere, Jr. must defend his home while his mother and sisters flee Boston and join his father who is in exile after warning Hancock and Adams of the approaching British. The young Paul, and his friend, Thomas hunt squirrels and scare away intruders. They must be brave and resourceful, and when their families return, it is clear that they have become young men.
The American Revolution
by Christi Parker
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
The American Revolution was the colonists' fight for freedom in the New World. It involved the help of spies, women, and people from other countries. The colonists fought against a giant, and they won their freedom from Great Britain against all odds. After winning the impossible, the colonists had a new battle to fight: setting up a new government and nation.
Christopher Columbus
by Wendy Conklin
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
Christopher Columbus set out on August 3, 1492, to find the East by sailing west. Over the course of a few years, he convinced the king and queen of Spain to pay for his trip, promising them fame and riches in return. Columbus discovered more than he bargained for-he had found a new continent.
Declaring Our Independence
by Corinne Brown
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
Declaring Our Independence depicts the formation of the important document, the Declaration of Independence, through the sometimes nervous eyes of one of its originators, Roger Sherman. Sherman, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, and many others risk treason in order to write a document that declares freedom to the citizens of a new government.
John Jay
by Roben Alarcon
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
John Jay served in all three branches of the government. Once the Constitution was written, he was a staunch supporter of the document, joining some other men in anonymously writing "The Federalist Papers," which explained to the public why the Constitution should be ratified. Soon after, he was made chief justice of the Supreme Court, and he was given the position of declaring laws unconstitutional for the very first time.
Work or Starve
by Debra Housel
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
John Smith is in shackles in Work or Starve: Captain John Smith and the Jamestown Colony, but how can that be if he is to lead the colony? The colonists won't listen to him until there is trouble! With the men and boys dying and the food nearly gone, Smith embarks on a bold journey that nearly costs his life. His relationship with Pocahontas, and her father, Powhatan are essential to the survival of the colonists.
Thomas Jefferson
by Jill K. Mulhall
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
Thomas Jefferson was a gifted writer whose words helped form the country. Although at one time he wanted to be a great speaker, he found comfort and ease in writing. Not only was he a great writer, but also an architect, inventor, surveyor, scientist, and a brilliant politician. He wanted to make life better for all people.
Pocahontas
by Marie Patterson
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
Pocahontas was the daughter of the great Chief Powhatan. Pocahontas was instrumental in helping Jamestown settlers survive a difficult winter and literally keeping peace between two diverse cultures.
Friends and Foes
by Debra Housel
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
Powhatan decides to destroy the colonists. With little food, 90 percent of the colonists dead, battling the Indians, and more colonists coming, there is little hope for the colonists. What can save them? A marriage between Pocahontas and John Rolfe bridges the gap and brings peace to the Indians and the colonists in unexpected ways.
Abigail Adams
by Jill K. Mulhall
read by Teacher Created Materials
Part of the Early America series
Abigail lived during times which were much more difficult for women than today. Despite this fact, Abigail Adams traveled, believed in women's rights, and experienced the American Revolution. A devoted wife, mother, and American patriot, Abigail influenced history by helping her husband, John, make important decisions.