Our American HeritageThe Pilgrims Coming Soon

Our American Heritage

ThePilgrims

and America’s First Thanksgiving

by Rusty Thomas

Get the Books Read Two Chapters Free

Grades 4 to 8 · Ages 9 to 14 · One chapter a week · Two full-color paperbacks

A family talking together around the kitchen table, the younger son raising his hand to share

The Constitution teaches us how a free people govern themselves. The Pilgrims teach us what kind of people can remain free.

Rusty Thomas, author

Two books, one story

Start with Book One, finish with Book Two

For grades 4 to 8 (ages 9 to 14); younger children join in when a parent reads aloud. One chapter a week. Book One follows the Pilgrims from England and Holland across the sea to the Mayflower Compact. Book Two carries your family from Plymouth Plantation to the First Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims’ legacy.

The Pilgrims, Book One, by Rusty Thomas, front cover

Book One

Chapters One to Nine

From England and Holland across the sea on the Mayflower to the Mayflower Compact

  • A letter from the author, the Introduction and nine chapters
  • Chapter Reviews, crosswords and “You Be the Judge” pages, with an answer key
  • “Look Back” questions that bring back earlier lessons
  • Narration breaks: stop, tell back what you just learned, and tick the box
  • Family Discussion, Family Activities, copywork and Scripture memory verses

175 pages · Full color · 8½ × 11 in

Coming soon to Amazon
The Pilgrims, Book Two, by Rusty Thomas, front cover

Book Two

Chapters Ten to Nineteen

Plymouth’s first winter, Squanto, Massasoit, the First Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims’ legacy

  • Ten chapters and the author’s Closing Thoughts
  • Chapter Reviews, crosswords and “You Be the Judge” pages, with an answer key
  • “Look Back” questions that bring back earlier lessons
  • Narration breaks: stop, tell back what you just learned, and tick the box
  • A Pilgrim Glossary, Family Activities, copywork and Scripture memory verses

182 pages · Full color · 8½ × 11 in

Coming soon to Amazon

Inside the books

Books to open together

Nineteen chapters in two books tell the true story of the Pilgrims, from England in the 1600s to the First Thanksgiving. Read them aloud at the kitchen table, stop at the questions, talk it over, and do the activities together.

  • 19Chapters
  • 66Days at sea
  • 200+Full-color pictures
  • 2Books

Nineteen chapters

From England in the 1600s to the First Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims’ legacy, with a Pilgrim Glossary and a chapter of Family Activities.

Learning that sticks

Chapter Reviews and crosswords; “You Be the Judge” pages where children decide everyday situations and say why; “Look Back” questions from earlier lessons; narration breaks; and copywork. Answers are in the back.

Done as a family

Family Discussion questions and a Family Activity in each of the seventeen story chapters, and fifteen more activities in Chapter Nineteen.

Rooted in Scripture

Scripture memory verses throughout.

In their own words

Pilgrim Spotlights, History Corners and passages from William Bradford’s and Edward Winslow’s journals.

For Charlotte Mason families

Made in the spirit of Charlotte Mason

One author telling children the true story of the Pilgrims. We built it to come as close to her way of learning as a workbook can.

One warm voice

Written by one author who speaks straight to your child, not in the dry voice of a committee textbook.

Narration built in

Where the story moves to a new idea, a narration break asks your child to close the book, tell back what they learned, and tick the box.

Short lessons

One chapter a week, with a natural place to pause at each narration break.

No busywork

No word searches and no filler. Every exercise asks a child to remember, apply or explain what they learned.

Copywork

Each of the seventeen story chapters has a copywork page: its memory verse, copied in your child’s best handwriting.

Beauty and Scripture

Full-color, true-to-life pictures of history and family life on nearly every page, and Scripture memory verses to learn by heart.

History is not merely about learning dates or remembering famous names. History is the story of what God has done through ordinary people who trusted Him.

Rusty Thomas, author

Look inside

Real pages from the book

Clear, large type, warm pictures, and room to write. Tap any page to see it up close.

Chapter One opens
Our Four Guideposts
Pilgrim Spotlight
Chapter Seven opens
You Be the Judge
Crosswords
The Mayflower Compact
Copywork
Book Two opens
Five Kernels of Corn
Family Activities

Contents

From England to the First Thanksgiving

Chapter by chapter, the two books follow the Pilgrims from England and Holland, across the sea on the Mayflower, through the first winter at Plymouth to the First Thanksgiving.

Read the first two chapters free

Book OneComing soon

  1. A Letter from the Author1
  2. Introduction5
  3. OneEngland in the 1600s11
  4. TwoBecoming Separatists29
  5. ThreeEscape to Holland47
  6. FourLife in Holland65
  7. FiveWhy Leave Holland?81
  8. SixThe Mayflower97
  9. SevenSixty-Six Days at Sea113
  10. EightBlown Off Course131
  11. NineThe Mayflower Compact147
  12. Answer KeyA1

Book TwoComing soon

  1. TenPlymouth Plantation1
  2. ElevenThe First Winter19
  3. TwelveFive Kernels of Corn37
  4. ThirteenSquanto53
  5. FourteenMassasoit and Peace71
  6. FifteenThe First Thanksgiving89
  7. SixteenWhat Were They Thankful For?107
  8. SeventeenThe Legacy of the Pilgrims125
  9. EighteenPilgrim Glossary145
  10. NineteenFamily Activities153
  11. Closing Thoughts165
  12. Answer KeyA1

Try it before you buy it

Read the first two chapters free

Download Chapter One and Chapter Two from Book One, exactly as they appear in the book. Print them out or read them on a tablet with your children. No sign-up and no email address needed.

Download the Free SampleChapters One and Two · 39 pages · PDF, 5.1 MB

Or download one part at a time

Rusty Thomas showing his grandchildren a globe

About the author

Rusty Thomas

Rusty Thomas is pastor and founder of American Reformation Church in Melbourne, Florida. He has served as a reformational leader with more than forty years of ministry that covers evangelism, missionary work, pastoral leadership, and national abolitionist efforts. He served as national director of Operation Save America, where he became known for confronting abortion and cultural rebellion with uncompromising Biblical conviction.

A veteran of the 101st Airborne Division where he served as an M60 machine gunner, Thomas graduated Magna Cum Laude and was honored with the prestigious Chancellor’s Award. Thomas has authored numerous books, including Biblical Strategies to Abolish Abortion, Jeremiah Strong, The Kingdom Leadership Institute Manual, and Raising Godly Children in a Godless Age. His newest book about to be published is When the Kingdom.

  • Faith
  • Fatherhood
  • Family
  • Freedom

His life’s message — faith, fatherhood, family, and freedom — reflects his conviction that strong families build strong churches, and strong churches transform nations. He and his wife, Kendra, have homeschooled and discipled thirteen children together.

Learn more at RustyThomas.org

Bulk orders

Ordering for your co-op, church or school?

Homeschool co-ops, churches, Christian schools and families giving the books as gifts can order 10 or more copies of either book, or both, directly from Rusty.

  1. 1Tell us how many copies you need and where they are going.
  2. 2Rusty gets your request and replies to you personally.
  3. 3Your books are sent straight to you.

Bulk Order Request

Nothing is charged here. This simply sends your request to Rusty.

The Pilgrims, Book Two, front cover The Pilgrims, Book One, front cover

Bring them home

Pass it on to the next generation

Both books are coming soon to Amazon. Start with the free sample this week.

Book One coming soon Book Two coming soon Free Sample

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Psalm 107:1