Resources to help prepare your children, wherever you may be headed: These titles are suggested for educational purposes, but we have not personally evaluated all the content.

Books, videos, and more:

  • Who Was/ What Was/ Where Is? Covers historical figures (e.g., Who Was Ben Franklin?), events (e.g., What Was the Boston Tea Party?) and landmarks (e.g., Where Is the White House?).
  • You Wouldn’t Want to Be… presents historical events or roles in a way that highlights how uncomfortable, dangerous, or ridiculous they often were, making history relatable and engaging for kids.
  • You Choose: Historical Eras. Interactive “choose your own adventure” style books where readers make decisions and explore different outcomes in major historical events (e.g., Revolutionary War, Ancient Egypt, WWII).
  • History’s Horrible Jobs. Focuses on gross or dangerous jobs throughout history.
  • Ordinary People Change the World. Picture-book biographies for younger readers (ages 5–8), with cartoon illustrations and an uplifting tone. Titles include I Am George Washington, I Am Rosa Parks, etc.
  • National Geographic Kids: Readers / Biographies. Brightly illustrated with real photos, these short readers cover both famous figures and places in a very visual, easy-to-read format.
  • DK Life Stories. Biographies with vivid visuals and lots of context.
  • Graphic Library: History / Biography (Capstone Press). Short graphic novels that cover everything from the Civil War to famous explorers.
  • Dear America / My America / My Name is America/ The Royal Diaries. Journaling narratives from young people living through key events in U.S. history (e.g., Civil War, Great Depression, colonial times).
  • American Girl Historical Characters. Each book follows a girl living in a different time period in American history.
  • I Survived/ Girls Survive. Each book centers on a child who survives a major historical disaster or event (e.g., Titanic, Pearl Harbor, 9/11).
  • Ranger in Time. A time-traveling golden retriever helps kids during key moments in history (e.g., the Oregon Trail, the Underground Railroad).
  • Horse Diaries. Each book is told from the perspective of a horse in a different historical time and place (e.g., Roman Empire, medieval Scotland, WWII).
  • Tales of Young Americans Series. Picture books that tell true stories of young people in key moments in American history.
  • The American Diaries (and The American Adventures). Christian historical fiction told in diary format, featuring boys and girls living in different eras of American history.
  • History Mysteries (American Girl). Girls solve historical mysteries in various time periods (Revolutionary War, 1920s, etc.).

Hands-On and Interactive Resources

“Time Traveler: The American Revolution” by DK Publishing
Offers maps and artifacts to explore colonial America interactively.

“Colonial Kids: An Activity Guide” by Laurie Carlson
Includes games, crafts, and recipes from the 1700s (like candle-making or yarn dolls).

“US Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation” by Jonathan Hennessey
Best for teens. Explains every article and amendment through powerful art and storytelling.

Graphic Novel Options

Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales by Nathan Hale – Engaging, funny, and informative graphic novels on real historical events.

History Comics – Covers specific topics like the American Revolution, Civil War, and more in comic form.

Movies & Shows:

Liberty’s Kids (PBS) (then visit Liberty Bell and Independence Hall) (YouTube)

Schoolhouse Rock – America Rock (Disney+ or YouTube)

Crash Course US History (YouTube)

Check PBS or the History Channel for docuseries and movies.

History Podcasts (listen in the car before/during your trip)

“The Past and The Curious” – Quirky, upbeat, and story-based history podcast for kids.

“Ben Franklin’s World”- Interviews with historians on colonial and revolutionary history. Many episodes are Philly-specific (e.g., about Franklin’s print shop, slavery in the city, the Constitution).

“American History Tellers” – Wondery
Professionally narrated, immersive episodes on the American Revolution and founding.

Games

“Constitution Quest” – Board game for middle & high schoolers to learn the U.S. Constitution.

“Road to Revolution” (History Channel game archived online)

iCivics.org – Founding Documents + Games. https://www.icivics.org
Great civics games like “Do I Have a Right?” and lessons on the Constitution. Ideal before visiting the National Constitution Center.

Online Media, Virtual Tours and Interactive Tools

  • Some educational platforms like Nearpod, Google Expeditions, or YouTube VR offer virtual reality field trips to Philadelphia’s landmarks.
  • Explore the Constitution article by article, with scholar commentary, interactive quizzes, and classroom games. https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution
  • Browse 18th-century maps of your destination. Compare the old grid with today’s. https://www.historicmapworks.com/
  • Library of Congress – American Memory Project – Explore 18th-century newspapers, maps of Philadelphia, prints of Independence Hall, and early depictions of Franklin. www.loc.gov/collections
  • Founders Online- Searchable letters and papers from George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Adams, and more.  Great for document analysis and understanding real voices of the Revolution. https://founders.archives.gov/
  • Look for primary source documents like the Declaration, Federalist Papers, and Constitution. https://teachingamericanhistory.org/
  • Look for unit studies related to Ben Franklin, the American Revolution, or Founding Fathers. https://www.homeschoolshare.com/
  • Use free downloadable notebooking or lapbooking pages from https://www.notebookingpages.com
  • Historic Scavenger Hunt: Create a printable checklist of Philly landmarks and symbols (Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross’ House, Franklin’s kite)
  • If you’re visiting a National Park Service location, check out www.nps.gov. The website has free downloadable lesson plans, worksheets and virtual tours for many of its locations across the US

Courtney Brooke is a second-generation PA homeschooler, a mother of four—including three grown children—and the music director at her church. She is passionate about helping homeschooling families navigate the path to a college degree free from debt and grounded in values they can trust (see the Facebook group: HS4CC Pennsylvania Homeschooling for College Credit). Courtney enjoys connecting with friends over coffee and traveling with her family.