Our Curriculum › History & Social Studies › 1st Grade
History 1
A first-grade year of maps and early history, read together: globe and map skills, Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, three world religions and modern Mexico, then the story of the Americas from the first people through Columbus, Jamestown, the Pilgrims, the Revolution and Lewis and Clark. It ends with American symbols, a capstone poster and a timeline of the whole year.
180 lessons
One a day for a school year
12 units
Each opens to its lessons
Real artifacts, real words
Clay tablets to the Declaration's own text
Standards
Core Knowledge Grade 1 history & geography
What's taught, unit by unit
Time, maps and our worldDays 1–23
What historians and geographers do, time words, timelines and clues about the past. Then the seven continents and five oceans, globes, the equator and four hemispheres, the compass rose and map keys, the United States and its neighbors Canada, Mexico and Central America with their capitals and flags, and island, peninsula, bay and harbor. Ends with drawing a neighborhood map, a review and a map check.
- 1 · Welcome to History 1: Historians and Geographers
- 2 · Before, After, Long Ago: Time Words and Timelines
- 3 · How Do We Know About the Past? Clues and Stories
- 4 · The Seven Continents: Where They Sit
- 5 · The Five Oceans of Earth
- 6 · Globes and Flat Maps
- 7 · The Equator and the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
- 8 · The Eastern and Western Hemispheres
- 9 · Which Hemisphere? Placing Countries and Continents
- 10 · North, South, East and West: The Compass Rose
- 11 · Using Directions on a Map
- 12 · Map Keys and Symbols
- 13 · Reading a Whole Map: Key, Compass and Symbols Together
- 14 · Where in the World Is the United States?
- 15 · Canada and Mexico: Our Neighbors
- 16 · Central America: The Bridge Between Two Continents
- 17 · North America's Three Largest Countries: Capitals and Flags
- 18 · Islands and Peninsulas
- 19 · Bays and Harbors
- 20 · Geography Detective: Island, Peninsula, Bay or Harbor?
- 21 · Project: Draw a Map of Your Neighborhood
- 22 · Unit 1 review: Time, Maps and Our World
- 23 · Unit 1 assessment: Maps and Geography
MesopotamiaDays 24–39
Finding Mesopotamia on the map and timeline, the Tigris and Euphrates, flood farming and irrigation canals, and how extra food grew the first cities. City jobs, a child's day, the wheel, plow and sailboat, cuneiform writing and numbers on clay, Hammurabi's laws and the ziggurat of Ur, then what Mesopotamia gave the world, a plan-a-city project, a review and a check.
- 24 · Where and When Was Mesopotamia? Asia, Long Ago
- 25 · The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
- 26 · Farming by the Rivers
- 27 · Irrigation: Bringing Water to the Fields
- 28 · Extra Food and the First Cities
- 29 · Jobs in a Mesopotamian City
- 30 · A Day in the Life of a Mesopotamian Child
- 31 · Sumerian Inventions: The Wheel, the Plow and the Sailboat
- 32 · Cuneiform: Writing on Clay
- 33 · Write Like a Scribe
- 34 · King Hammurabi's Code of Laws
- 35 · Ziggurats: Tall Towers of Mesopotamia
- 36 · What Mesopotamia Gave the World
- 37 · Project: Plan a Mesopotamian City
- 38 · Mesopotamia review
- 39 · Mesopotamia assessment
Ancient EgyptDays 40–61
The Nile and its yearly flood, papyrus boats and paper, pharaohs and the double crown, the pyramids and how they were built, mummies and tombs, and the Great Sphinx. Gods and temples, daily life, children's school and games, hieroglyphics and writing a name in a cartouche, the Rosetta Stone and tomb paintings; then Hatshepsut, King Tut and the finding of his tomb, a comparison with Mesopotamia, Egypt's gifts, a review and a check.
- 40 · Finding Egypt and the Nile
- 41 · The Gift of the Nile
- 42 · Boats and Papyrus: The Nile as a Highway
- 43 · Pharaohs: The Kings of Egypt
- 44 · The Pyramids: Giant Resting Places
- 45 · Building the Pyramids: Clever Ideas
- 46 · Mummies and Tombs
- 47 · The Great Sphinx
- 48 · Egyptian Gods and Temples
- 49 · Daily Life Along the Nile
- 50 · Children in Ancient Egypt: School and Play
- 51 · Hieroglyphics: Egypt's Picture-Writing
- 52 · Write Like an Egyptian
- 53 · Solving the Hieroglyph Puzzle: The Rosetta Stone
- 54 · Egyptian Tomb Paintings
- 55 · Hatshepsut: A Woman Who Became Pharaoh
- 56 · Tutankhamen, the Boy King
- 57 · Tutankhamen's Golden Tomb Is Found
- 58 · Two Rivers, Two Great Civilizations
- 59 · What Egypt Gave the World
- 60 · Egypt review
- 61 · Egypt assessment
Judaism, Christianity and IslamDays 62–74
A respectful, descriptive look at three faiths, each in its own words: Judaism (Abraham and Moses, the Torah and synagogue, Shabbat, Hanukkah and Passover), Christianity (Jesus and his teachings, the Bible and church, Christmas and Easter) and Islam (Muhammad, the Quran and mosque, Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr). The three are then compared side by side and found on the map where they began, with a review and a check.
- 62 · Many Beliefs, Many Celebrations
- 63 · Judaism: Abraham, Moses and the Jewish People
- 64 · Judaism: The Torah and the Synagogue
- 65 · Judaism: Shabbat, Hanukkah and Passover
- 66 · Christianity: Jesus and His Teachings
- 67 · Christianity: The Bible and the Church
- 68 · Christianity: Christmas and Easter
- 69 · Islam: Muhammad and the Beginning of Islam
- 70 · Islam: The Quran and the Mosque
- 71 · Islam: Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr
- 72 · Three Religions, Side by Side, and Where Each Began
- 73 · World religions review
- 74 · World religions assessment
Modern MexicoDays 75–86
Mexico's deserts, mountains, rainforests and coasts, and its huge capital, Mexico City. Family life and everyday Spanish words, numbers and colors, corn and market foods, Independence Day, Day of the Dead and piñatas, folk art and mariachi, soccer and lotería, the story of the eagle on the flag, and how Mexico and the United States are neighbors; a review and a check.
- 75 · Mexico: Land of Deserts, Mountains and Beaches
- 76 · Mexico City: A Huge, Busy City
- 77 · Life in Mexico: Family, School and Spanish Words
- 78 · Spanish Words to Know
- 79 · The Food of Mexico: Corn, Beans and Colorful Markets
- 80 · Celebrations of Mexico: Piñatas, Day of the Dead and Independence Day
- 81 · Art and Music of Mexico: Bright Colors and Mariachi
- 82 · Sports and Fun in Mexico: Fútbol and Games
- 83 · The Flag of Mexico and the Eagle on the Cactus
- 84 · Neighbors: Mexico and the United States
- 85 · Mexico review
- 86 · Mexico assessment
The first AmericansDays 87–98
How the first people crossed a land bridge from Asia and spread across two continents, how hunters and gatherers found food and made tools, and how Native peoples used what each land gave them, traced on a route map. A first look at the Maya, the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan and the Inca's Machu Picchu, compared side by side, then how archaeologists learn from artifacts; a review and a check.
- 87 · The First People Arrive: Crossing the Land Bridge
- 88 · Spreading Out Across Two Continents
- 89 · Hunters and Gatherers: Food and Tools of the First Americans
- 90 · Living With the Land
- 91 · Map: Where the First Americans Went
- 92 · The Maya: Stone Cities in the Jungle
- 93 · The Aztec and the City on a Lake
- 94 · The Inca: Mountain Roads and Machu Picchu
- 95 · Three Amazing Builders Compared
- 96 · How Do We Know? Meet the Archaeologist
- 97 · Earliest Americans review
- 98 · Earliest Americans assessment
Explorers cross the oceanDays 99–109
Why Europeans wanted a sea route to Asia, Columbus's 1492 voyage, and the Taíno people who already lived on the islands, told honestly and gently. The swap of foods, animals and sickness between two worlds, Cortés and the Aztec, Pizarro and the Inca, and a map of their routes; a review and a check.
- 99 · Why Sail West? Ships, Sailors and Maps in the 1400s
- 100 · Columbus, Part 1: A Bold Idea
- 101 · Columbus, Part 2: Land, But Not Where He Thought
- 102 · Columbus Meets the Taíno
- 103 · After Columbus: Two Worlds Trade
- 104 · Foods of Two Worlds
- 105 · Cortés and the Aztec
- 106 · Pizarro and the Inca
- 107 · Map: Follow the Explorers
- 108 · Explorers review
- 109 · Explorers assessment
Roanoke, Jamestown and PlymouthDays 110–127
The mystery of the Lost Colony, then Jamestown, John Smith, the Powhatan people and the real Pocahontas, and how Virginia grew. The Pilgrims' voyage and hard first winter, Tisquantum (Squanto) and the Wampanoag, and the 1621 harvest feast, followed by a map and comparison of the two settlements, why people crossed the ocean, a design-a-settlement project, a pretend letter from the Mayflower, a review and a check.
- 110 · The Lost Colony
- 111 · Jamestown: A Settlement in Virginia
- 112 · Captain John Smith
- 113 · The Powhatan People
- 114 · Pocahontas
- 115 · Jamestown Grows
- 116 · The Pilgrims, Part 1: Leaving England
- 117 · The Pilgrims, Part 2: A Hard First Winter
- 118 · Squanto and the Wampanoag
- 119 · The First Thanksgiving
- 120 · Map: Jamestown and Plymouth
- 121 · Two Settlements, Two Stories
- 122 · Why People Crossed the Ocean
- 123 · Project: Design a Settlement, Part 1
- 124 · Project: Design a Settlement, Part 2
- 125 · A Child's Voyage: Life Aboard a Ship
- 126 · Settlements review
- 127 · Settlements assessment
The American RevolutionDays 128–146
The thirteen colonies on a map and timeline, the king's taxes, the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere's ride and the first fighting, and George Washington taking command. The Declaration of Independence and the Fourth of July, "Yankee Doodle," the first flag and the Betsy Ross legend, Valley Forge, the many helpers, victory, Washington as first president and choosing leaders by voting; the child retells it all in order, then a review and a check.
- 128 · The Thirteen Colonies Grow Up
- 129 · Map and Timeline: The Thirteen Colonies, 1607 to 1776
- 130 · The King's Rules
- 131 · The Boston Tea Party
- 132 · Paul Revere's Ride
- 133 · The Fight Begins
- 134 · George Washington Takes Command
- 135 · The Declaration of Independence
- 136 · The Fourth of July
- 137 · Yankee Doodle: A Song of the Revolution
- 138 · The Flag and the Betsy Ross Legend
- 139 · The Hard Winter at Valley Forge
- 140 · Helpers of the Revolution
- 141 · Victory!
- 142 · From General to President
- 143 · A Brand-New Country with No King
- 144 · Retell the Revolution in Order
- 145 · Revolution review: Who Did What?
- 146 · Revolution assessment
Heading westDays 147–160
The Appalachian Mountains, Daniel Boone's Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap and life in a frontier fort, then Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase on the map. Lewis and Clark's journey with Sacagawea up the Missouri, the plants and animals they recorded, over the Rockies to the Pacific and home again; a review and a check.
- 147 · The Wall of Mountains
- 148 · Daniel Boone's Wilderness Road
- 149 · Boonesborough: Life in a Frontier Fort
- 150 · The Louisiana Purchase
- 151 · Map: The Louisiana Purchase
- 152 · Lewis and Clark Set Out
- 153 · Sacagawea
- 154 · Up the Great River
- 155 · New Animals and Plants
- 156 · Over the Mountains
- 157 · The Pacific at Last!
- 158 · Telling the President
- 159 · Heading West review
- 160 · Heading West assessment
American symbolsDays 161–168
The flag then and now, the Liberty Bell and the bald eagle, and spotting symbols on money and around the home. The patriotic song "America" and what liberty means, designing a family symbol, a review and a check.
- 161 · The Flag, Then and Now
- 162 · The Liberty Bell
- 163 · The Bald Eagle
- 164 · Symbols All Around You
- 165 · America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee): A Patriotic Song
- 166 · Design a Symbol for Your Family
- 167 · American symbols review
- 168 · American symbols assessment
The year in reviewDays 169–180
Four reviews of the whole year, then a capstone poster: choosing a topic, finding three facts and where each came from, making the poster and presenting it to family. A timeline of the whole year, a two-part final check and a home history museum to finish.
- 169 · Cumulative review 1: Maps and the Ancient World
- 170 · Cumulative review 2: Faiths, Mexico and the First Americans
- 171 · Cumulative review 3: Explorers and Settlers
- 172 · Cumulative review 4: The Revolution, the West and Our Symbols
- 173 · Capstone Project: Choose Your Favorite Topic
- 174 · Capstone Project: Gather Three Facts and a Source
- 175 · Capstone Project: Make Your Poster
- 176 · Capstone Project: Present and Teach Your Family
- 177 · The Great Timeline of Our Year
- 178 · Final assessment, Part 1: The Ancient World, Religions and Mexico
- 179 · Final assessment, Part 2: The Story of the Americas
- 180 · You Are a Historian and a Geographer!
By the end of the year, your child can
- Use a globe and maps to find the seven continents, five oceans, equator and hemispheres, and give directions with a compass rose and map key
- Locate the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America, and tell an island, peninsula, bay and harbor apart
- Explain how rivers helped Mesopotamia and Egypt grow, and name their writing, rulers, laws and great buildings
- Name the holy book, place of worship and holidays of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and describe beliefs respectfully
- Describe Mexico's land, capital, language, foods and celebrations
- Tell how the first Americans arrived and spread out, and name the Maya, Aztec and Inca and where they built
- Put events on a timeline and retell the stories of Columbus, Jamestown, the Pilgrims, the Revolution and Lewis and Clark, including the Native peoples already there
- Explain what the flag, the Liberty Bell and the bald eagle stand for, and tell a checked fact from a legend
Other 1st Grade subjects: Math 1 · Reading 1 · Writing 1 · Science 1