by Susan Ternyey, July 2026
We’re all grateful for a summer break from the flurried pace of the school year. But must our minds in the meantime go to mush? Following are some easy options to encourage thinking, maybe even family discussions, for just a few minutes a day. Or, as an alternative to constant screen time at home or while traveling. We used to love having mom read to us on the road, she had great memories of her family singing as they drove–and that could be incorporated with each shared book (kids could take turns reading or retelling a book or story they like, even family stories). I enjoy listening to books on CD to help the miles fly by when I’m traveling on my own, and my daughter has improved upon that technology with an audio book service. See https://lifehacker.com/the-best-audiobook-services
Each day read 1-2 early readers, watch a short video, documentary, or movie.
- Benjamin Franklin (& family): newspaper writer/editor/printer/publisher, scientist, inventor, civic leader (lending library, fire brigade & insurance, hospital, militia, post office, U of Pennsylvania), slave owner to abolitionist, diplomat, politician, Founding Father
(publish your own small newspaper)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho4Ym6rzfoo “The Story of America: Benjamin Franklin” 15 min video published by the White House in partnership with Hillsdale College
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPHlNKn5oLQ “Road to Liberty: Benjamin Franklin” (The White House Founders Museum) 1 min AI video
10 Facts about Benjamin Franklin (you could make a game for your family!)
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/10-facts-benjamin-franklin - Thomas Paine (& wife): “Common Sense” published in 1776
(you could write your own easy reader)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbYs04hQ27w half minute video about Paine this work
https://www.worldhistory.org/Thomas_Paine/
Full text https://americainclass.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Common-Sense-Full-Text.pdf - Alexander Hamilton (& Wife): “Federalist Papers” (85 articles/essays for the ratification of the Constitution of the US, published 1787-88)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhv4E33CpxY 2 min video about the “Federalist Papers”
Alexander Hamilton: From Orphan to Founding Father by Monica Kulling (Step into Reading level 3), 48pp, ages 5-7 (read aloud to young reader)
Eliza Hamilton, Founding Mother by Monica Kulling (Step into Reading Biography Reader level 3) - John Jay (& wife): “Federalist Papers”, diplomat, 1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
https://www.revolutionary-war.net/john-jay/ key facts about John Jay
https://johnjayfatherofindependence.weebly.com/early-life.html brief article of his early life
John Jay: Early America by Roben Alarcon (Primary Source Readers), 24pp, grade 4-6, ages 9-18
(you could prepare a poster presentation) - James Madison (& wife Dolly): “Federalist Papers”, “Father of the Constitution” and Bill of Rights, 4th US president (What’s the difference between Rights and wants?)
https://www.history.com/articles/james-madison article with brief video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EivTHLKaa9s 3.5 min video with more info about him & wife
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jciafGjG-mg “Road To Liberty: Ratification of the Constitution” 6 min AI video, as if narrated by James Madison; at least 80 videos in the series - Daniel Boone (& family): explorer, pioneer, frontiersman, folk hero; blazed the Wilderness Road through Cumberland Gap to Kentucky in 1775
https://www.biography.com/history-culture/daniel-boone about Daniel, his exploits, and family
https://www.americanacorner.com/blog/daniel-boone-legacy in Rev War, link 2.5 min video
Daniel Boone Coloring Book by Peter Copeland (Dover American History Coloring Books) 32pp, reading age 8-11 (alternatively, print a coloring page from the internet) - Lewis & Clark, Sacagawea, & the Corps of Discovery (travel part of the route if you can)
https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/the-sacajawea-trail-lewis-clark-corps-of-discovery The Sacajawea Trail (Lewis & Clark, Corps of Discovery)–part 1
https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/sacajawea-trail-part-2-traveling-down-the-columbia-river-to-the-pacific-ocean Sacajawea Trail part 2–Traveling down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean
(paddle or pretend to paddle a canoe or row a boat) - John Colter: part of the Corps of Discovery, trapper/trader (visit a museum with a section on fur trappers/traders)
https://allthatsinteresting.com/john-colter
https://www.nps.gov/people/private-john-colter.htm
https://museumofthemountainman.com/john-colter/
https://facts.net/history/people/35-facts-about-john-colter/ 35 facts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92DeyVahQTo 10 min video (Kevin Costner’s The West)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNFgI5RZ-Ac 1 hr 15 min video, “Life and Legend of John Colter” from “This is Yellowstone” - Davy Crockett: frontiersman, hunter, congressman, legend, pioneer–Tennessee to Texas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCFtz268yBY The Story of Davy Crockett, 5 min kid video
https://www.history.com/articles/davy-crockett article with short video link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_GFw8ebVQo 13 min video from Living History
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-davy-crockett-the-rugged-frontiersman-killed-at-the-alamo-became-an-unlikely-american-hero-180987140/ link to 3.5 min video of TV show
(Play a hunting game or hunt for “big game” insects) - William Sublette: explorer, frontiersman, trapper/trader, helped develop the Rocky Mountain Rendezvous (which began in 1825), helped on the best routes for the Oregon Trail
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDWzMVzeiWA “William Sublette: King of the Fur Trade” (Into the Wild Frontier, Season 2 Episode 1) exciting 43 min video_
(play a trading game) - Jedediah Smith: frontiersman, fur trader, mountain man, explored from the Rockies to the Pacific; found South Pass
https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/jedediah-smith/ fast facts and details
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-jedediahsmith/ with color map
https://historytogo.utah.gov/smith-jedediah/ from History to Go, History for Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwroXJa034U 5.5 min video, including map (pause to see)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qylAUsH3gQI 1 hr video of still images, ads imbedded
Vacation at Jedediah Smith Redwood National Park, CA, if you can:
https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/redwoods-california
https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/return-to-the-redwoods-smith-river-to-eureka-ca - Kit Carson: fur trapper, frontiersman, guide, Indian agent, US Army officer
https://www.notablebiographies.com/Ca-Ch/Carson-Kit.html
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/kit-carson
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-kitcarson/ other famous frontiersmen he met; and mentions his wife
https://www.nps.gov/people/kit-carson.htm from the National Park Service
https://www.nps.gov/foun/learn/historyculture/kit-carson.htm from Fort Union National Monument along the Santa Fe Trail, New Mexico Territory, about a man who lived in a different time with different (sometimes incongruent) values from today (as though our are always consistent)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSbGpHDTMeY 1 hr 36 min, 1940 B&W movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbNJEZMiYkk Fighting with Kit Carson part 1, 16 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO3Z_WtzfUo Fighting with Kit Carson part 1, episode 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBlXOBwGdoU Fighting with Kit Carson part 2, 1933 B&W
(Discuss the accuracy of movies and popular culture about historical people and events) - Hugh Glass: fur trapper, frontiersman, survived grizzly bear attack
https://allthatsinteresting.com/hugh-glass Incredible Life of Hugh Glass . . . Inspired ‘The Revenant’ (Discuss revenge)
“The Revenant” (2015) 2 hrs 36 min, rated R
“Man in the Wilderness” (1971) 1 hr 44 min, rated PG, with Richard Harris, John Huston - Peter Skene Ogden: British-Canadian fur trader, explorer, official of Hudson’s Bay Company
Ranged through British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming
https://kids.kiddle.co/Peter_Skene_Ogden includes a photo
https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/ogden_peter_skene/ Oregon Encyclopedia
https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/oregon-city-or plaque & info abt him
https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/bend-or-beyond scroll down to Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint—Hwy 97, 20 mi south of Madras, 7 mi north of Redmond
https://jacobbarlow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021-07-03-19.30.05.jpg sign in UT
https://www.hmdb.org/Photos8/879/Photo879405.jpg?76202544200PM plaque in UT
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0c/bc/ea/0cbcea3dbb0c2844dfee0caf8c599c60.jpg headstone
https://jacobbarlow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/2016-05-07-11-00-29.jpg plaque
https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wmB619_Peter_Skene_Ogden_Utah statue on a horse, Ogden UT
https://oregontic.com/oregon-historical-markers/ogden-peter-skene-2/ Hwy 20, E of Burns OR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h3ti5_Hv9M 13 min video Peter Skene Ogden Trail
(Take a hike, explore nature) - The Oregon Trail—parts 1, 2, and 3; pick a part that’s interesting or pack a wagon/car for a summer trek
https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/traveling-the-oregon-trail-part-1
https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/traveling-the-oregon-trail-part-2
https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/traveling-the-oregon-trail-part-3-the-barlow-road-applegate-trail
2 interpretive signs at Bonneville Point, overlooking Boise ID. Capt. Bonneville sign gives a timeline: 1804-06 Lewis & Clark, 1811 Hunt’s expedition reaches Boise River Valley, 1812 Robert Stuart expedition travels east from Astoria OR . . . 1833 Bonneville fur trading expedition comes through, 1843 first large party of emigrants travel the Oregon Trail by wagon past Fort Hall to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. - Robert Stuart: led an expedition east from Astoria OR, kept a diary which can still be read, found a wagon-friendly crossing of the Continental Divide
https://www.bakerlib.org/files/454f8270b/Robert+Stuart+Discovers+the+Future+Route+of+the+Oregon+Trail.pdf 5pp pdf with B&W pictures, very readable
https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org › articles › stuart_robert › pdf Oregon Encyclopedia article
https://home.nps.gov/places/oregon-national-historic-trail.htm National Park Service brief article with interactive map, links to other trails and coloring pages of animals
https://www.nps.gov/oreg/learn/historyculture/index.htm National Park service article, brief history, links to people of the trail and stories of the trail
https://exhibits.stanford.edu/ruderman/catalog/vq655ww1213 map, routes of Stuart & Hunt
(trace a map of the Oregon Trail, make it into a board game) - Nathaniel Wyeth: Boston inventor & businessman, mountain man, set up 2 trading posts
https://trailresearch.org/article/wyeth-1834/ brief synopsis & map of route
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/nathaniel-wyeth/ brief article & photo
https://www.intermountainhistories.org/items/show/580 article, photo Fort Hall replica, map
(build a fort indoors or out) - Marcus & Narcissa Whitman: missionaries; mission was a stop on the Oregon Trail for some
https://www.nps.gov/whmi/index.htm Whitman Mission National Historic Site, Walla Walla WA
https://www.nps.gov/oreg/learn/historyculture/narcissa-whitman.htm Narcissa Whitman wrote
(offer hospitality to someone on their journey or write a journal of a journey of your own) - John C. Fremont: US Army officer, explorer, politician, abolitionist, Indian fighter
https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/john-charles-fremont/ fast facts, article, photo
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/fremont-expeditions/ Fremont’s Expeditions of the … West
https://civicsforlife.org/john-c-fremont-americas-restless-pathfinder/ Restless boy to man
(make a path for others to follow on a map, or in good life choices—discuss good life choices) - Mormon Trail: 1300 mi from Illinois to Salt Lake Valley (UT), largely across the river from the Oregon Trail
https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/the-1847-trek-mormon-pioneer-trail.htm National Parks site
https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/mormon-trail/ includes a video link
(How and what could you eat on a summer-long trip without refrigeration and almost no stores?) - California Trail and the ‘49ers (Who made more money, gold seekers or their suppliers?)
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/california-trail/ abt. the California Trail, and the Gold Rush
https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/california-gold-rush/ article & video
https://www.californiatrailcenter.org/the-westward-expansion-trails/ California Trail Interpretive Center, Elko NV; Freedom 250 Trail Days were June 6-7, 2026 (schedule & photos); 2027 Trail Days June 5-6 - Santa Fe Trail: from Missouri to New Mexico; major route for trade, settlers, military, 1821-1880
https://home.nps.gov/articles/000/the-santa-fe-trail.htm article and links
https://www.nps.gov/safe/planyourvisit/maps.htm maps
https://www.nps.gov/safe/planyourvisit/index.htm trip ideas and info
https://www.theroute-66.com/santa-fe.html#google_vignette Santa Fe, Route 66, & the Trail
(How have major highways near you followed or changed from pioneer days?) - Gila Trail & Old Spanish Trail: southern routes across the continent had the advantage in winter, but summer heat was grueling.
https://theautry.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/six_trails_west_lesson_new.pdf 6 Trails West, a pdf from the Autry Museum of the American West, brief summaries & activities for kids
https://www.geneautry.com/museum/ The Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles CA; founders Gene Autry and his wife Jackie
https://www.nps.gov/olsp/learn/historyculture/index.htm Old Spanish National Historic Trail with links to stories of the trail and people of the trail
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039678/ “On the Old Spanish Trail” (1947) 1 hr 15 min, Roy Rogers
https://geneautry.com/geneautry/motionpictures/motionpictures_chron.php Gene Autry films
(Learn/sing a Gene Autry song, one by the Sons of the Pioneers, or other cowboy song) - Spanish in the Southwest & California
https://webhispania.info/early-spanish-exploration-in-the-us-the-interior-of-the-united-states/ Early Spanish Exploration in the US: The Interior of the United States, nice little map of routes
https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtid=3&psid=536 overview, America’s Spanish Heritage
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/tgUxxkSGLRIA8A Spanish Institutions in the US
https://paradisevalley.libguides.com/SPH245/eande Hispanic Heritage in the Southwest
https://www.historicalconquest.com/single-post/lesson-plans-for-colonial-life-in-the-americas-spanish-settlements-southwest-of-north-america lesson plan & learning activities for middle grades and up; focus on San Antonio, Tucson, and Santa Fe
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/travelspanishmissions/list-of-sites.htm list of Spanish Colonial Missions of the Southwest Travel Itinerary includes Arizona, New Mexico, & Texas
https://www.nps.gov/prsf/learn/historyculture/spanish-period.htm Presidio of San Francisco
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ah-presidiomission/ Missions & Presidios of the US; illustrated article & links to related info, such as California Missions, etc.
https://www.pbs.org/latino-americans/en/timeline/ Timeline of Latino American History
(Savor some Latin Flavors . . . foods from different Latin countries, festivals, dance, music, history, culture . . . https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/savor-the-latin-flavors ) - 1862 Homestead Act: encouraged US settlement in the west, offering 160 acres per person
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/homestead-act explanation & text
https://www.history.com/articles/homestead-act explanation and short video
https://usaheaven.com/articles/how-homestead-act-gave-away-270-million-acres-shaped-american-west illustrated article includes unintended consequences
(Make a plan for how you would improve your homestead, what will it cost?) - Pony Express, Stagecoaches, Telegraph: getting the message across
(send a message by Morse Code)
https://www.nps.gov/poex/learn/historyculture/index.htm brief history Pony Express, links
https://nationalponyexpress.org/historic-pony-express-trail/1860-1861-history/ history, re-rides
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/stagecoach/ illustrated article & links to more stories
https://moultonmuseum.org/articles/stagecoach/ from Moulton Museum, Laguna Hills CA
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-stagecoachkings/ Stagecoach Kings in the Old West
https://www.insp.com/stories/stagecoach-routes-that-shaped-the-american-west/ stage routes
https://www.thecollector.com/stagecoaches-used-old-west/ reality check on stagecoaches
https://plainshumanities.unl.edu/encyclopedia/doc/egp.med.045.html telegraph
https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/telegraph-crosses-wyoming-1861 Telegraph in WY - Transcontinental Railroad(s): improved transportation for people & goods
https://www.oldwest.org/transcontinental-railroad-facts/ illustrated article, map
https://usaheaven.com/articles/transcontinental-railroad-usa impacts
https://www.history.com/articles/transcontinental-railroad article and short video
https://www.american-rails.com/transcontinental.html illustrated article, maps, stats, chart
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/tcrr-timeline/?flavour=full timeline
https://mystories66.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7911f-transcontinental_rrs_canada_us_map.pdf map of transcontinental railroads of Canada & the US with dates
https://www.amtrak.com/plan-your-trip.html?intcmp=wsp_hp-callout_link_plan-your-trip Amtrak map shows 4 routes that cross the US
(take a train ride, or make a cardboard box train; read books about trains/transportation) - Cattle Trails: getting the beef to market
https://ridewayoutwest.com/famous-cattle-trails-american-west/ 5 Cattle Trails defined the west
https://www.swanlandco.com/2025/05/06/cattle-drives-the-epic-journey-that-shaped-the-american-west Cattle Drives . . .; life on the trail, etc
https://19thcentury.us/cattle-trails-in-the-late-19th-century/ Cattle Trails, economic impact
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052504/ Rawhide TV series 1959-65
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036232/ “The Old Chisholm Trail” (1942) 1 hr
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065547 “Chisum” (1970) 2 hrs, stars John Wayne
https://tubitv.com/movies/100006403/red-river?startPos=8 “Red River” (1948), John Wayne
https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?keywords=cattle-drive films & series about cattle drives
(Do you know how your beef gets to the grocery store?) - Western Territories & early western forts
https://usamap.net/historical/ US map 1800, 1850, 1900, showing territories . . . but WA, MT, the Dakotas, became states in 1889; WY in 1890, UT 1896. Also, timeline of expansion
https://allfreeprintable.com/cont/engws/img/free-printable-list-of-us-states-admission.jpg
https://www.militaryconnection.com/blog/13-historic-us-forts-to-visit-in-the-west/ 13 historic forts to visit west of the Mississippi
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4051r.ct011679/?r=-0.587,-0.059,2.173,1.421,0 Historic forts of the old West; you must enlarge the image to see the map, its legend, and little background info
(Design or build a fort for yourself or your group. Keep in mind the supplies you’ll need.) - Indian Wars: conflict over land
https://www.history.com/articles/american-indian-wars-timeline Timeline
https://history.army.mil/Research/Reference-Topics/Army-Campaigns/Brief-Summaries/Indian-Wars/ easy to read timeline chart, article
https://www.havefunwithhistory.com/native-american-chiefs/ 13 most famous Indian Chiefs
(How do you choose a leader for your “tribe”/group/community? What characteristics?) - Hawaii & Alaska: English exploration of the Pacific Coast and Russian settlement in AK
https://hawaiisbesttravel.com/history-of-hawaii/ History of Hawaii
https://www.gohawaii.com/hawaiian-culture/history Brief History of Hawaii, timeline
https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/hawaii-in-the-pnw links to history
(Eat Hawaiian or go to a Hawaiian event).
https://www.nps.gov/anch/learn/historyculture/alaska-s-history.htm Alaska timeline
https://www.history.com/articles/alaska article about Alaska’s history
https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/north-to-alaska Alaska cruise
Other Options:
Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch with Janie Nitze; 48pp, ages 7+
Stars, Stripes & Stories: The American Revolution for Kids Told Through Heroes, Battles, and Everyday Life by D.P. Michaels (Kids Discovering America series); 113pp, ages 7-14
They Led the Way: 14 American Women by Johanna Johnston, 126pp, B&W illustrations
Trailblazers of America, published by PragerU: Daniel Boone, Johnny Appleseed, Lewis & Clark,Davy Crockett, John C. Fremont, John Sutter, Bass Reeves
Dear Levi: Letters From the Overland Trail by Elvira Woodruff; 119pp, preface, map, author’s note
Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express by Eleanor Coerr (I Can Read! Level 3) 64pp 4 chapters, color illustrations
The Journal of Joshua Loper: A Black Cowboy (The Chisholm Trail, 1871) by Walter Dean Myers, 158pp, 3 sections, epilogue, historical note, fold-out map
Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner (I Can Read Series) grade 1, 64pp, 4ch, based on a true story, black settlers to Kansas 1878
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan; readers aged 8-9
Cowgirls by Ubet Tomb, coloring book with stories
My Stories 
