Correlated to State Standards
Developed by historians and educators, every unit pairs rich historical content with reading and writing instruction correlated to state standards.
The Story of America
The Story of America is a supplemental U.S. history program for middle and high school students that immerses learners in the events, ideas, and people that shaped our nation. Students grapple with authentic primary source documents, building historical knowledge while strengthening reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.
America at 250: Will the Next Generation Know Its Story?
87% of 8th graders score below proficient in U.S. history, the lowest rate of any subject on the Nation’s Report Card. That’s a civic vulnerability. Teaching history as isolated facts isn’t working, so we’re offering a new way.
Introducing: Fireside
Fireside brings primary sources to life through live, spoken conversations with historical figures. Every response is grounded in authentic historical documents, giving students a new way to engage with history.
Flexible for Teachers. Focused on Proficiency.
Teachers assign Story of America lessons to give students targeted practice with your state standards. Built-in quick assessments track each student’s proficiency and help prepare them for end-of-course exams and other high-stakes tests.
Fully Correlated to State Standards
Supports ELA Instruction
Rooted in evidence-based literacy practices, the Story of America builds students’ reading and writing skills, with built-in supports that guide them from analyzing sources to writing evidence-based arguments.
31 American History Units
- Unit 1The Americas Before Columbus
- Unit 2The Age of Exploration
- Unit 3The Colonization of America
- Unit 4The Road to Revolution
- Unit 5The American Revolution
- Unit 6The New Nation
- Unit 7The Challenges of a Young Nation
- Unit 8The Rise of the New Republic
- Unit 9The Age of Jackson and the Common Man
- Unit 10Growth and Division
- Unit 11The Civil War
- Unit 12Reconstruction
- Unit 13Social Studies Skills
- Unit 14The US Constitution
- Review UnitPre-Columbian to Reconstruction
- Unit 1Reconstruction
- Unit 2The Nation Expands
- Unit 3The Impact of Industry
- Unit 4The Gilded Age
- Unit 5The Progressive Era
- Unit 6America and the Age of Empires
- Unit 7World War I
- Unit 8From the Roaring Twenties to Black Tuesday
- Unit 9The Great Depression and the New Deal
- Unit 10World War II
- Unit 11The Cold War and Prosperity
- Unit 12The Sixties and Seventies
- Unit 13The End of the American Century
- Unit 14Social Studies Skills
- Unit 15The US Constitution
Presenting a Factual, Unbiased View of U.S. History
The Story of America is built on historical accuracy and balance. Lessons draw from vetted primary sources, respected historians, and state-approved standards to give students an honest, fact-based view of our nation’s past. By avoiding political bias and focusing on evidence, the program helps students form their own informed perspectives.
Engaging for All Learners
Available in Spanish and English
Provides a dual-language feature, offering content in both Spanish and English.
Accessible Content and Experience
Visual, auditory, and contextual features enhance the learning experience for every learner.
Impact Across the Nation
School districts using the Story of America see higher student engagement, stronger comprehension scores, and improved U.S. history outcomes.
I love it. Use it as a resource for our projects, and daily lessons and content learning. Utilize the content for our testing and teaching TEKS. I think it is an outstanding program and would like to use it more.
They read/listened to it 20-30 minutes. They retained the knowledge. For my ELL class, I had my Spanish speakers listening to the lesson in Spanish while I was teaching from the reading in English. It was fantastic. They FINALLY looked engaged and excited.
It has been designed in easily digestible chunks for students. The images and videos enhance the content.
Ready to Bring U.S. History to Life in Your Classrooms?
Connect with a Story of America expert to discover how our program helps students master U.S. history and grow into informed, engaged citizens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grades is the Story of America designed for?
The program is built for middle and high school students, offering grade-appropriate units, activities, and assessments correlated to state and national standards. Most districts use the program for grades 8 and 11.
How does the Story of America support both history and literacy instruction?
Each lesson integrates reading, writing, and critical thinking with historical content, helping school districts meet ELA and social studies standards.
Is the program correlated to my state’s standards?
Yes. All units are fully correlated to national social studies standards, as well as individual state frameworks for history and ELA.
Does it work for English learners and diverse classrooms?
Absolutely. The program is available in English and Spanish, includes audio supports, and is designed to meet the needs of varied learners.
Can I use The Story of America alongside my existing curriculum?
Yes. The Story of America is a supplemental program designed to enhance, not replace, your current resources.
How is student progress tracked?
The program includes embedded assessments, automated scoring, and dashboards that provide real-time insights into student understanding and growth.
What is the time commitment for each lesson?
Lessons are modular and can be completed in 20–40 minutes, allowing for flexibility in daily or weekly planning.
Is professional development available?
We offer training and ongoing support to help school districts integrate the Story of America seamlessly into their classrooms.
How does the Story of America ensure a factual and unbiased portrayal of U.S. history?
The program was developed with historians and educators. It uses primary sources and verifiable evidence to present a balanced, fact-based view. Lessons avoid political bias and focus instead on helping students critically analyze history from multiple perspectives.