Military History Independent Study

This post is in response to a request for me to share what we are using for Military History. It is going to be an Independent Study and not an actual part of our school day. Here are the books and resources that I have compiled to use for Military History Independent Study:

~Military/War~
+Boys' Book of Sea Fights by Chelsea Curtis Fraser
+Boys' Book of Battles by Chelsea Curtis Fraser
+War Inventions & How They Were Invented by Charles R. Gibson
+Military Instructor's Manual by J.P. Cole and Oliver Schoonmaker

~Civil War~
Reading books:
+Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
Across Five Aprilsby Irene Hunt
Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith
American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War Narrative by Bruce Catton

~World War I~
Reading books:
The Red Fighter Pilot: The Autobiography of the Red Baron by Manfred Von Richtofen
+The Diary of a U-Boat Commander by Stephen King-Hall/ Karl Von Schenk
+Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery
+A Traveler in War-Time by Winston Churchill (audio here)

~World War II~
Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

For WWII we also have a Time Life DVD set that we got from the local used public library sale.

The way I have 'planned' it out so far is as follows:War Inventions can be read throughout the course but I think it would be more beneficial if it were done before starting WWII. Also, Military Instructor's Manual can be read throughout the course as well.

Read Fraser's books first (Sea Fights and then Battles). This will give some background to some of the military pursuits up to WWI.

More focused areas of study will be Civil War, WWI & WWII. These will be studied at least 2 months each, I think. I will try to find other resources to help with the Independent Study but mostly, at this point, my ds will be reading and writing 'reports'. By reports he is to do a written narration at the end of each chapter in the books he reads. This is includes all the books.

This is not a 'year long' study. Although I would like it to be completed by the end of the year, if we feel that more time is needed, or wanted, then so be it. And as the study progresses I will add in, or take out, books and resources. Right now there is no schedule in place (such as read "pages x-xxi for week 1") just my list of books

The books with '+' in front mean they are free and online. They may be available at such a place as Amazon but we are using the ones for free. Most of the other books I have been able to pick up from our local used book sale put on by the public library.

~~Some of these books are very graphic in the nature of war. I would definitely advise previewing these before using them.~~

**Disclaimer: Some of the links included are affiliate links, I may receive cash compensation if you purchase from Amazon by clicking on the links I have included.**