A Christ-centered exploration of American history from Native Americans through early national growth, integrated with geography, civics, and economics. Students discover how God's providence has worked through people and events to shape our nation, while developing map skills, understanding citizenship, and learning basic economic concepts.
Understand the sequence of early American history from Native Americans through westward expansion
Identify US regions and understand how geography affects how people live
Explain the three levels of government and basic rights and responsibilities of citizens
Apply basic economic concepts including supply and demand, saving and spending, and economic interdependence
Recognize God's providence in American history and develop a biblical worldview on citizenship and stewardship
Click any week to see daily lesson details.
Introduction to Native Americans as the first peoples of North America, exploring the concept that people lived here long before European explorers arrived.
Sequencing historical eventsdiscussionDiscovering that Native Americans were not one group but many different tribes with unique cultures, languages, and ways of life.
Recognizing diversity within groupsvisual explorationIntroduction to major Native American regions (Northeast, Southeast, Plains, Southwest, Northwest, California) and how location affected lifestyle.
Basic map reading and regional identificationhands-onLearning how Native Americans used natural resources from their environment for food, clothing, and shelter, demonstrating stewardship of God's creation.
Understanding human-environment interactiondiscussionExploring how Native Americans passed down their history through oral traditions, stories, and respect for elders.
Understanding cultural traditionsstorytellingExamining different types of Native American dwellings including tepees, longhouses, pueblos, and wigwams, and why they were suited to different environments.
Analyzing cause and effect in geographyhands-onDiscovering what different tribes ate based on their region, including the Three Sisters (corn, beans, squash), buffalo, fish, and gathered foods.
Understanding regional differencesdiscussionLearning about Native American clothing, jewelry, and crafts made from natural materials, and how these reflected their environment and culture.
Recognizing cultural expressionvisual explorationExploring what life was like for Native American children, including their responsibilities, games, and education within the tribe.
Making personal connections to historycomparisonUnderstanding how Native American tribes worked together for the common good, with everyone having important roles and responsibilities.
Understanding community cooperationdiscussionDiscovering foods that originated with Native Americans, including corn, potatoes, tomatoes, chocolate, and pumpkins, and recognizing their global impact.
Connecting past to presenthands-onLearning English words that come from Native American languages, including state names, animal names, and place names.
Understanding cultural influence on languageword explorationExploring Native American inventions and innovations such as canoes, snowshoes, and agricultural techniques that are still used today.
Recognizing technological contributionsvisual explorationLearning about Native American respect for nature and stewardship of the land, connecting to biblical principles of caring for God's creation.
Understanding environmental stewardshipdiscussionUnderstanding that Native Americans are still part of our country today, with ongoing cultures, traditions, and contributions to American society.
Recognizing continuity and changediscussionDiscovering why European explorers wanted to find new routes to Asia for trade, including the desire for spices, silk, and gold.
Understanding cause and effectdiscussionLearning about Columbus's 1492 voyage, his belief he could reach Asia by sailing west, and his arrival in the Americas.
Basic biographical understandingstorytellingUnderstanding how Columbus's voyage led to the exchange of plants, animals, ideas, and people between the Old World and New World.
Understanding global connectionshands-onMeeting other explorers including Amerigo Vespucci, Ponce de León, and Hernando de Soto, and learning what they discovered.
Comparing multiple historical figuresvisual explorationExploring how maps changed as explorers learned more about the Americas, and practicing basic map skills with cardinal directions.
Understanding how knowledge grows over timehands-onLearning why the Pilgrims left England, their desire for religious freedom, and their time in Holland before deciding to sail to America.
Understanding religious freedomdiscussionExploring the Pilgrims' dangerous 66-day journey across the Atlantic Ocean on the Mayflower, including the challenges they faced.
Understanding historical challengesstorytellingLearning about the Mayflower Compact as an early example of self-government and the importance of rules for the common good.
Understanding early democratic principlesdiscussionUnderstanding the difficult first winter at Plymouth, how many Pilgrims died, and how Squanto and the Wampanoag people helped them survive.
Recognizing cooperation between culturesstorytellingLearning about the first Thanksgiving celebration as a time to thank God for His provision and the help of Native American friends.
Understanding gratitude and thanksgivingdiscussionLearning about Jamestown, Virginia (1607), the challenges the settlers faced, and how John Smith helped the colony survive.
Understanding early settlement challengesstorytellingDiscovering that people came to America for different reasons including religious freedom, economic opportunity, and new beginnings.
Analyzing multiple motivationsdiscussionIntroduction to the thirteen colonies, learning their locations on a map and understanding they were grouped into three regions.
Basic map skills and regional groupinghands-onExploring what daily life was like for colonists, including their homes, work, and how they met their basic needs.
Comparing past and present daily lifevisual explorationLearning about childhood in colonial times, including chores, schooling, and how children's lives differed from today.
Making personal connections to historycomparisonUnderstanding the size and diversity of the United States, including its location in North America and its borders with Canada and Mexico.
Basic geographic locationhands-onIdentifying major US landforms including the Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, Great Plains, and coastal areas.
Recognizing and locating landformsvisual explorationLearning about major US water bodies including the Mississippi River, Great Lakes, and both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Identifying water features on mapshands-onIntroduction to the five main US regions (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, West) and their general characteristics.
Understanding regional divisionshands-onUnderstanding how geography influences where people live, what jobs they have, and what activities they enjoy.
Analyzing human-environment interactiondiscussionIdentifying states in the Northeast region and locating the region on a US map, understanding its coastal location.
Regional map readinghands-onLearning about the Northeast's distinct four seasons and how climate affects activities and ways of life throughout the year.
Understanding climate patternsdiscussionExploring major Northeast cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, and understanding why cities grew near harbors and waterways.
Understanding urban geographyvisual explorationUnderstanding that many of the original thirteen colonies were in the Northeast and became important in American history.
Connecting geography to historydiscussionLearning about natural resources in the Northeast including forests, fish, and minerals, and jobs related to these resources.
Understanding resource-based economiesdiscussionIdentifying states in the Southeast region and locating important features including the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Appalachian Mountains.
Regional map readinghands-onLearning about the Southeast's warm, humid climate and long growing season, and how this affects agriculture and daily life.
Understanding climate and agriculture connectiondiscussionExploring the Southeast's agricultural history including cotton, tobacco, and rice farming, and the role of plantations in colonial times.
Understanding historical agriculturevisual explorationDiscovering diverse Southeast landscapes including beautiful beaches, the Everglades, and coastal wetlands, and their importance.
Recognizing landscape diversityvisual explorationLearning about unique Southeast cultural contributions including country music, jazz, and southern food traditions.
Understanding regional culturediscussionIdentifying Midwest states and understanding why this region is called America's heartland, located in the center of the country.
Regional map reading and locationhands-onLearning about the five Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior), their importance for transportation and resources.
Identifying major water featureshands-onDiscovering the Midwest's flat prairies and rich soil that make it perfect for farming, understanding why it's called the breadbasket of America.
Understanding land use and agriculturevisual explorationLearning what crops are grown in the Midwest and how this region helps feed people across America and the world.
Understanding agricultural productiondiscussionExploring Midwest cities like Chicago and Detroit, and understanding how the region became important for manufacturing and industry.
Understanding industrial geographydiscussionIdentifying Southwest states and learning about the region's desert landscapes, canyons, and unique rock formations.
Regional map reading and landform identificationhands-onUnderstanding the Southwest's hot, dry climate and how people and animals adapt to living with little water.
Understanding climate adaptationdiscussionLearning about Native American tribes of the Southwest including Pueblo, Navajo, and Apache peoples and their lasting influence.
Understanding cultural heritagevisual explorationDiscovering how Spanish explorers and missionaries influenced the Southwest, including missions, architecture, and language.
Understanding cultural influencesdiscussionLearning about important Southwest resources including oil, copper, and natural wonders that attract tourists from around the world.
Understanding regional resourcesdiscussionIdentifying West region states and understanding the region's great diversity in landscape, climate, and size.
Regional map readinghands-onExploring the West's diverse geography including the Rocky Mountains, Pacific coastline, forests, and valleys.
Recognizing geographic diversityvisual explorationLearning about the Pacific Ocean's influence on West Coast states and how ocean access affects trade, jobs, and recreation.
Understanding ocean geographydiscussionIntroduction to how the California Gold Rush and westward expansion brought many people to settle in the West.
Understanding migration patternsstorytellingLearning about West region resources including timber, technology industries, and agricultural products from California's Central Valley.
Understanding regional economydiscussionUnderstanding how American colonists began to feel more American than British after living in the colonies for many generations.
Understanding identity developmentdiscussionLearning how Britain taxed the colonists but didn't let them vote or have a say in British government, and why this made colonists angry.
Understanding basic principles of representationdiscussionDiscovering how colonists protested the tea tax by dumping British tea into Boston Harbor, dressed as Native Americans.
Understanding protest and civil disobediencestorytellingLearning about the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, the first battles of the Revolutionary War.
Understanding conflict escalationstorytellingUnderstanding that not all colonists wanted independence; some were Patriots who wanted freedom, others were Loyalists who stayed loyal to Britain.
Recognizing multiple perspectivesdiscussionLearning about George Washington as commander of the Continental Army, his character, and his leadership during difficult times.
Understanding biographical significancestorytellingUnderstanding the Declaration of Independence as the document that announced America's freedom, and why we celebrate July 4th.
Understanding founding documentsdiscussionLearning about the Declaration's important ideas that all people are created equal and have rights given by God, not by kings.
Understanding founding principlesdiscussionDiscovering the difficult winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge and how Washington's army persevered despite cold, hunger, and hardship.
Understanding perseverance and sacrificestorytellingLearning how the Revolutionary War ended with American victory at Yorktown in 1781, and how God's providence brought independence.
Understanding historical outcomesstorytellingUnderstanding why America needed a Constitution to establish rules for the new government and protect people's freedoms.
Understanding purpose of governmentdiscussionLearning about the three branches of government (Executive, Legislative, Judicial) and how they share power so no one has too much.
Understanding government structurehands-onIntroduction to the Bill of Rights as the first ten amendments that protect important freedoms like religion, speech, and assembly.
Understanding basic rightsdiscussionLearning about George Washington as America's first president and how he set important examples for future leaders.
Understanding presidential leadershipbiographical studyUnderstanding that America's government gets its power from the people, and citizens have both rights and responsibilities.
Understanding democratic principlesdiscussionIntroduction to the three levels of government in America and understanding that each level has different responsibilities.
Identifying government levelshands-onLearning about local government including mayors, city councils, and how they make decisions about schools, parks, and local services.
Understanding local governmentdiscussionUnderstanding state government including the governor and state legislature, and how they make laws for our state.
Understanding state governmentdiscussionLearning about national government including the President, Congress, and Supreme Court, and their responsibilities for the whole country.
Understanding national governmentdiscussionUnderstanding how the three levels of government work together to serve citizens and solve problems that affect communities.
Understanding government cooperationdiscussionUnderstanding what it means to be a citizen of the United States and how citizens belong to and participate in their country.
Understanding citizenshipdiscussionLearning about important rights citizens have including freedom of religion, speech, and the right to be treated fairly.
Understanding basic rightsdiscussionUnderstanding citizen responsibilities including obeying laws, paying taxes, serving on juries, and voting when old enough.
Understanding civic responsibilitydiscussionLearning how voting lets citizens choose their leaders and make decisions, and practicing voting in a classroom election.
Understanding democratic participationhands-onExploring ways citizens can serve their communities including volunteering, helping neighbors, and working for the common good.
Understanding community servicediscussionLearning about the American flag's design, what the stars and stripes represent, and how to show respect for the flag.
Understanding national symbolsdiscussionDiscovering why the bald eagle was chosen as America's national bird and what it represents about our country.
Understanding symbolic meaningvisual explorationLearning about the Liberty Bell's history, its famous crack, and its connection to American independence and liberty.
Understanding historical symbolsstorytellingUnderstanding the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of freedom and welcome to immigrants coming to America seeking a better life.
Understanding symbolic meaningvisual explorationLearning ways to show patriotism including saying the Pledge of Allegiance, singing patriotic songs, and being thankful for America.
Understanding patriotic expressiondiscussionUnderstanding how America began to grow westward beyond the original thirteen states, and why people wanted to move west.
Understanding expansion and migrationdiscussionLearning how President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803, doubling the size of America.
Understanding territorial expansionhands-onDiscovering the Lewis and Clark expedition sent to explore the new Louisiana Territory and find a route to the Pacific Ocean.
Understanding explorationstorytellingLearning about Sacagawea, the Shoshone woman who helped Lewis and Clark on their journey, serving as interpreter and guide.
Recognizing diverse contributionsbiographical studyUnderstanding how America eventually stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, fulfilling the vision of a coast-to-coast nation.
Understanding geographic expansionhands-onLearning about pioneers as brave families who left their homes in the East to travel west and start new lives on the frontier.
Understanding pioneer identitydiscussionDiscovering the Oregon Trail, a 2,000-mile journey that took pioneers about six months in covered wagons.
Understanding historical travel challengesstorytellingLearning what pioneers packed in their wagons, how families lived during the journey, and the challenges they faced on the trail.
Understanding daily life in historyvisual explorationExploring how pioneer families built homes from logs or sod, grew their own food, and created communities in the wilderness.
Understanding pioneer settlementdiscussionLearning about pioneer children's responsibilities, chores, limited schooling, and the simple games they played for fun.
Making personal connections to historycomparisonUnderstanding that almost all Americans came from other places originally, making America a nation built by immigrants from around the world.
Understanding immigration historydiscussionLearning reasons people immigrated to America including escaping poverty, seeking freedom, fleeing danger, and finding opportunity.
Understanding push-pull factorsdiscussionDiscovering Ellis Island as the place where millions of immigrants entered America, were inspected, and began their new lives.
Understanding immigration processvisual explorationLearning how immigrants brought their cultures, languages, foods, and traditions to America, enriching our country's diversity.
Understanding cultural contributionsdiscussionUnderstanding America's motto 'Out of Many, One' and how people from many countries became one American people.
Understanding national unity in diversitydiscussionLearning the difference between needs (things necessary for survival like food, water, shelter, clothing) and wants (things we desire but can live without).
Distinguishing needs from wantshands-onUnderstanding that we can't have everything we want because resources are limited, so we must make choices about what to buy.
Understanding scarcitydiscussionLearning that when we choose one thing, we give up something else—this is called opportunity cost.
Understanding opportunity costhands-onUnderstanding that God wants us to be wise stewards of our resources, choosing needs over wants and being content with what we have.
Applying biblical principles to economicsdiscussionPracticing making economic choices through scenarios, deciding between needs and wants with limited money.
Applying decision-making skillshands-onLearning that people earn money by working at jobs, providing goods or services that others need or want.
Understanding income and workdiscussionUnderstanding the importance of saving money for future needs and goals, and how saving helps us be prepared.
Understanding savinghands-onLearning to think carefully before spending money, comparing prices, and making sure purchases are worthwhile.
Understanding wise spendingdiscussionUnderstanding a biblical approach to money: giving to God first, saving for the future, then spending on needs and some wants.
Applying biblical financial principlesdiscussionIntroduction to budgeting as a plan for money, deciding in advance how to give, save, and spend.
Basic budgeting skillshands-onLearning that producers are people or businesses that make goods or provide services that others want to buy.
Understanding producersdiscussionUnderstanding that consumers are people who buy and use goods and services, and everyone is a consumer.
Understanding consumersdiscussionLearning that producers and consumers depend on each other, and people specialize in different jobs so we can trade with one another.
Understanding economic interdependencediscussionIntroduction to supply and demand: when many people want something but there's not much available, prices go up; when there's plenty, prices go down.
Understanding basic supply and demandhands-onParticipating in a classroom market where students act as producers and consumers, buying and selling goods or services.
Applying economic conceptshands-onLearning about natural resources (water, soil, minerals, forests, oil) that come from the earth and are used to make things we need.
Identifying natural resourcesdiscussionUnderstanding that different regions have different natural resources, which affects what people produce and what jobs they have.
Understanding resource distributionhands-onLearning that people and regions trade with each other to get resources and products they don't have themselves.
Understanding tradediscussionTracing how natural resources are transformed into finished products we use, understanding the production process.
Understanding productionvisual explorationUnderstanding that God calls us to be good stewards of natural resources, using them wisely and not wasting them.
Applying biblical stewardshipdiscussionUnderstanding that America is home to people from many different cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds, making our nation diverse and interesting.
Recognizing diversitydiscussionLearning about different cultural celebrations in America including Lunar New Year, Cinco de Mayo, Diwali, and others.
Understanding cultural traditionsvisual explorationDiscovering how American food has been enriched by cuisines from many cultures, creating a delicious variety of options.
Recognizing cultural contributionsdiscussionUnderstanding the biblical truth that God created all people in His image, making us one human family despite our differences.
Applying biblical principles to diversitydiscussionLearning to appreciate both what we share in common as Americans and what makes each culture unique and special.
Appreciating unity and diversitydiscussionUnderstanding that many things about daily life have changed throughout history, while some things stay the same.
Recognizing change and continuitydiscussionComparing how people traveled in the past (walking, horses, wagons) to modern transportation (cars, planes, trains).
Comparing past and presentvisual explorationLearning how communication has changed from handwritten letters delivered by horse to instant messages and video calls.
Understanding technological changecomparisonComparing school in the past (one-room schoolhouses, slate boards) to modern schools with technology and many resources.
Making personal connections to historycomparisonUnderstanding that while technology changes, important values like love, family, friendship, and faith remain constant.
Recognizing continuitydiscussionLearning that a cause is why something happens and an effect is what happens as a result, and understanding this helps us understand history.
Understanding cause and effecthands-onAnalyzing cause and effect in the Pilgrims' story: they wanted religious freedom (cause), so they sailed to America (effect).
Applying cause and effect to historydiscussionUnderstanding causes of the Revolutionary War (taxes, no representation) and effects (independence, new nation).
Analyzing historical cause and effectdiscussionExploring why people moved west (land, opportunity, gold) and what happened as a result (nation grew, cities formed, Native Americans affected).
Understanding multiple effectsdiscussionUnderstanding that while we study human causes and effects, God's providence works through all of history according to His plans.
Applying biblical worldview to historydiscussionLearning that perspective means point of view, and different people see and experience the same event in different ways.
Understanding perspectivehands-onUnderstanding that Native Americans and colonists had different perspectives on European settlement in America.
Recognizing multiple perspectivesdiscussionExploring how Patriots and Loyalists saw the same events of the Revolutionary War differently based on their beliefs and loyalties.
Analyzing contrasting perspectivesdiscussionUnderstanding that learning about different perspectives helps us understand history more completely and fairly.
Valuing multiple perspectivesdiscussionLearning that God calls us to treat all people with dignity and to try to understand others' perspectives, even when we disagree.
Applying biblical principles to perspective-takingdiscussionLearning that primary sources are objects, documents, or images created during the time period we're studying, giving us direct evidence about the past.
Understanding primary sourcesdiscussionExamining historical photographs as primary sources, learning what they can teach us about how people lived, dressed, and worked.
Analyzing photographsvisual explorationExploring how letters and diaries from the past help us understand what people thought, felt, and experienced.
Analyzing written primary sourceshands-onLearning how artifacts (tools, clothing, toys) from the past help us understand daily life and culture in different time periods.
Analyzing physical objectshands-onPracticing using primary sources as evidence to answer questions about the past, thinking like historians.
Applying historical thinking skillshands-onLearning that a timeline is a visual way to show the order of events in history, helping us see what happened first, next, and last.
Understanding timeline purposediscussionMaking a timeline of important events in students' own lives to practice sequencing and understand how timelines work.
Sequencing personal eventshands-onCreating a timeline of major events from Native Americans through the Revolutionary War, seeing the sequence of American history.
Sequencing historical eventshands-onMaking a timeline of westward expansion events including the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark expedition, and pioneer movement.
Organizing historical informationhands-onUnderstanding that all of human history fits into God's eternal timeline, from creation through today and into the future.
Applying biblical worldview to historydiscussionReviewing how to use map keys and symbols to understand what maps show, practicing with various types of maps.
Reading map keyshands-onPracticing using cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) to describe locations and give directions on maps.
Using cardinal directionshands-onReviewing the difference between physical maps (showing landforms) and political maps (showing boundaries), and when to use each.
Distinguishing map typescomparisonApplying map skills by creating original maps of the classroom, school, or neighborhood with appropriate symbols and keys.
Creating mapshands-onUsing maps to trace historical journeys including Columbus's voyage, the Oregon Trail, and Lewis and Clark's expedition.
Applying maps to historyhands-onDiscussing qualities that make someone a hero including courage, integrity, perseverance, and serving others.
Identifying character traitsdiscussionLearning about George Washington's character including his honesty, humility, and leadership, and how these qualities made him a great leader.
Analyzing character in historical figuresbiographical studyDiscovering Harriet Tubman's bravery in escaping slavery and helping others escape through the Underground Railroad.
Understanding courage and sacrificestorytellingLearning about Abraham Lincoln's character, his nickname 'Honest Abe,' and his perseverance through many failures before becoming president.
Recognizing perseverancebiographical studyIdentifying everyday heroes in our lives who show godly character and discussing how we can be heroes by serving others.
Applying character lessonsdiscussionUnderstanding that holidays help us remember important people, events, and values from our history and culture.
Understanding purpose of holidaysdiscussionReviewing why we celebrate July 4th as the birthday of American independence and freedom.
Connecting holidays to historydiscussionRemembering the first Thanksgiving and understanding this holiday as a time to thank God for His blessings.
Understanding gratitudediscussionLearning why we honor presidents, especially George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, on Presidents' Day.
Honoring leadershipdiscussionUnderstanding these holidays as times to remember and honor those who served and sacrificed for our country.
Understanding sacrifice and servicediscussionReviewing the sequence of American history from Native Americans through the founding of the United States.
Sequencing major historical eventsreviewReviewing the five US regions, their characteristics, and how geography affects how people live.
Identifying regions and geographic featuresreviewReviewing the three levels of government, the Constitution, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
Understanding government and citizenshipreviewReviewing economic concepts including needs vs. wants, saving and spending, producers and consumers, and stewardship.
Applying economic conceptsreviewReviewing how we've seen God's hand throughout American history, guiding events and people according to His purposes.
Recognizing God's providencediscussionUnderstanding that history is still being made and students are part of the ongoing American story.
Connecting past to present and futurediscussionDiscussing how students can be good citizens now through kindness, responsibility, service, and respecting others.
Applying citizenship conceptsdiscussionReviewing how God calls us to be good stewards of our country, resources, money, and opportunities.
Applying biblical stewardshipdiscussionPlanning a simple service project or act of kindness to make a positive difference in the local community.
Applying learning through servicehands-onCelebrating the year's learning through sharing favorite lessons, presenting projects, and thanking God for His story in history.
Reflecting on learningcelebrationStart with Day 1 and work through at your own pace. Each lesson builds on the last!