I'm Ready to Learn | Journeys of Imagination | Hideaways in History | Animals and Their Worlds
Children Around the World | The American Story I | American Crossing 1 | All American I Set
The American Story II | High School American History | Adventures in the Sea & Sky | Quest for the Ancient World Quest for the Middle Ages | Quest for Royals and RevolutionFull Program with African American Focus - #AB2-E - $424 Value for $349
Reduced Program without African American Focus - #AB2 - $384 Value for $314
Days of Daring in Our American Story...
Incredible adventures await as students learn about American life from the Civil War to the rise of America as a world power in the 20th century. Activities will capture the interest of students as they try out gold panning, set up war campaigns, spy out enemy secrets or prepare a “gangsta dinna” for the family.
Plan to bring traveling clothes! You’ll trace the battles of the Civil War and follow the Conestoga wagons out to western frontiers. You’ll feel the triumphs of immigrants coming to Ellis Island and heartaches of families living through the Great Depression.
Your heart will beat with fear as you travel the Underground Railroad or fly over enemy territory in World War II. The adventure goes right on into books you and your students will enjoy reading aloud. Walk with a boy and his turkey flock all the way to Colorado, or race in a canoe down an Alaskan river!
As always, hands-on activities and learning opportunities are central to the program. Your instructor’s guide has so many ideas, but in addition, several of the other books in this set have been chosen for their unique activity opportunities.
Take a Look at Features You’ll Love in Your Program Guide!
- Parent helps that are practical and help you “learn together” with your student
- 36-week schedule laid out so clearly, you’ll “open and go” everyday
- Fantastic crafts and active learning opportunities that are perfect for young learners
- Supply lists for activities that will help you plan your year
- Rating systems for activities keep you on track with what works for you
- Independent study schedules eliminate writing down long homework lists
- 100 Timeline Cards & games give you an easy, fun way to drill key information for retention and understanding
- Click here to see a sample of this program guide.
Decide on Which Package is Right for Your Family!
Full Program with African American Focus
All the resources you’ll need to help your student understand the key happenings in later American history. Students will travel through time to see the beginnings of African American importation and enslavement in America. They’ll follow along through the African American struggle first for the legal recognition of their equal rights under the law during the Civil War, then their struggle for true equality in the Civil Rights movement. Students will be on hand to see the wrenching cost of Civil War battles, but also witness the triumph of American invention and ingenuity! They’ll experience what it was like to settle a western town and leave a life in the east to hunt for gold. They’ll see firsthand what it was like to be an immigrant in America, or a child worker during the Industrial Revolution. Then, they’ll move forward through the twentieth century, making stops in the Great Depression, the world wars, and the American space program. It’s a great program waiting for you to experience it with literature you’ll love and activities you’ll remember!Reduced Program without African American Focus
We’ve designed this program for those who have children at the younger end of the age spectrum who need to keep the program minimized to accommodate the ages of their family members. It may help to know that this program spends very little time on focused study of African Americans and their struggle for equal rights in American history; we thus would not recommend this program for most students as these topics are pivotal to understanding later American history.Optional Middler Programs: Additional Independent Work for Students Grades 4th-6th
Perfect for the family who’d like to use this study and include older students, this add-on set offers books and resources designed to be completed independently. The set includes history books, a government study, and a U.S. States and geography study that is continued from the American 1 Middler Set. The set also comes with substitute independent study schedules that can be used in place of those included in the themed program guidebook. These independent study schedules map out the work in the middler program as well as all the work already included in the basic set, making it a well-rounded program for an older student. You'll also be glad to know that creative writing suggestions in LA 4, LA 5, and LA 6 give you flexibility and choices for using American Story 2 with your older student. A link to this program set can be found at the bottom of this page, or click here to head to the Middler Resources for American 2.
American Story 2 Resources
Highlights of Your American Story 2 Guidebook
AB2-G | $70 - Free with Package Purchase
Click here to see a sample of this program guide.Simple and Ready-to-Go!
You’ll find this program guide is laid out so simply - just open and begin! Each of your 36 school weeks is laid out to reduce your paperwork! Each week also includes activity ideas, geography and timeline work important advice on how to teach concepts, web search ideas, and much more!Supply List for Activities
By parent request, we’ve put together a supply list in your guidebook so you can plan your activities ahead of time, and gather any supplies (other than routine items) you need.Student Independent Work Schedules
Each week, your student will have a schedule all their own to complete the work they need to do on their own.WOW! Timeline Cards
We’ve assembled 100 dates from your students’ Timeline Dates list this year and created a reinforcement card set
that you can use for games and drill. On one side is the “EVENT” and on the reverse is the “DATE” and
“HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE” of the event, to maximize learning and retention! Game ideas are included!Rating System for Activities
Activities have a rating on their supplies & skill level.
Our Exclusive Notebooking Resource:
“Make-Your-Own” American 2 Book
AB2-M | $13Our own history supplement that gives a half-page of the most important facts in American history. Students will complete each page and insert in the “Timelines in History.” Gives weekly opportunities to notebook all the most important events in American history. An assortment of pages allows students to illustrate pages, respond to questions, create artwork, solve puzzles or complete other paper activities throughout the year. Use with “Timelines in History.” Click here to see a sample of this book.
History Books
The Last Safe House | AB2-H01 | $13
Detailed drawings bring to life the stealth involved in helping slaves escape on the Underground Railroad.Ghosts of the Civil War | AB2-H02 | $ 8
One of the best illustrators of our time gives us an excellent overview of the Civil War. This text explains this conflict in a way that young children can grasp and enjoy.Alexander Graham Bell: An Inventive Life | AB2-H05 | $ 7
The telegraph isn’t the only thing this man invented--do you know all his contributions? Kids will enjoy this text.Gold Rush Fever | AB2-H04 | $13
Head to spectacular Alaska to get your hands on a claim and pan for gold! Exceptional drawings will tell you how!Going West! | AB2-H06 | $13
Another fantastic book in the Kaleidoscope Kids series takes us along on a wagon train west to help settle a frontier town. Plan to build a “prairie schooner” and a fort!Immigrant Kids | AB2-H07 | $ 9
Growing up in Coal Country | AB2-H19 | $ 9
What was it like to be a child in America at the turn of the century? Find out what these children experienced.Brainstorm! | AB2-H09 | $ 7
Find out about the many inventions that changed American life in the 20th century.Earthquake: Story of Old San Francisco | AB2-H10 | $ 5
Find out about the quake that devastated the entire city.The Wright Brothers: A Flying Start | AB2-H03 | $ 7
Watch the Wright brothers build their famous flying machine and learn how they learned from their mistakes to finally take to the sky!
True Stories from World War I | #AB2-H20 | $5
Exciting tales of adventure during the last century's great conflict.Helen Keller: A Determined Life | AB2-H11 | $ 7
One of America’s most famous champions for the visually impaired comes to life in this biography.Rose’s Journal: Story of the Great Depression | AB2-H12 | $7
American families struggle through dust bowls, unemployment and the economic hardships of the Great Depression.World War II Days | AB2-H13 | $13
Follow two fictional families as they live through the scary days of World War II. Great activity ideas are part of this great text for younger students.Teddy Roosevelt: The Adventurous President | AB2-H08 | $5
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Leader in Troubled Times | AB2-H17 | $5
John F. Kennedy: The Making of a Leader | AB2-H18 | $ 5
If You Lived at the Time of Martin L. King | AB2-H14 | $ 6
Get to know this leader of America’s civil rights movement.Spacebusters: Race to the Moon | AB2-H15 | $ 5
Journey to the moon and back as you find out all about America’s space program and the moon landing mission.Crisis in Space: Apollo 13 | AB2-H16 | $ 7
Be there when something goes terribly wrong in this space mission, and see whether or not the crew was successfully brought back to earth.Adventure Reading for Your Family
The Great Turkey Walk | AB2-R01 | $ 7
An enterprising young man decides to go into business for himself by driving a flock of turkeys west to Denver. This is so much fun!On the Banks of Plum Creek | AB2-R02 | $ 7
One of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s best installments, telling about life in a sod house near a small prairie town. Many great moments include the introduction of Nellie Oleson, a blizzard, and a cloud of grasshoppers.
Down the Yukon | AB2-R03 | $ 6
When three brothers lose their Yukon sawmill, the youngest of them decides to participate in a race to Nome.Who Was Amelia Earthart? | AB2-R04 | $ 5
Travel along through the life and adventures of the famous aviatrix who broke new ground for women and pilots.A Letter to Mrs. Roosevelt | AB2-R05 | $ 6
Margo’s family is living through the Great Depression, when it looks like her family will lose their home. Can Margo find a way to help her family?Journey to America | AB2-R06 | $ 6
A family fleeing Nazi Germany in 1938 are separated many times in their escape to America.
Snow Treasure | AB2-R07 | $ 6
A group of children smuggle nine million dollars in gold past Nazi sentries during World War II.A Cricket in Times Square | AB2-R08 | $ 7
An extremely talented cricket becomes the favorite pet of a family that runs a New York newspaper stand.Charlotte’s Web | AB2-R09 | $ 8
A little girl adopts the runt of her father’s litter of pigs and names him Wilbur. His adventures in the barnyard are both hilarious, touching, and sad. A classic!Early Bible Study for Kids
The One-Way Bible | AB2-B01 | $15
Oodles of stories and life lessons combine with awesome art to appeal to young students. This Bible presents the truths of what the Bible is saying and means for kids.Activity Resources
Gold Rush Kit | AB2-A02 | $19
This fantastic kit includes a gold pan, a sand and mineral kit and even a gold flake or two!Civil War Paper Soldiers | AB2-A01 | $ 7
These cut out soldiers will help your student re-enact his favorite battles or camp scenes. Can be set up again and again. Your students will enjoy cutting and constructing these miniature soldiers!American Achievements Activity Pack | AB2-A03 | $16
A variety of fun activities, such as making homemade ink, organizing a company of soldiers, designing your own denim Levis, an inventor’s card game, and a “Life in the Great Depression” game.
Spy Science | AB2-A04 | $16
Learn about secret codes, and use with the activity pack above to use with World War II spy activities.Smart about Money | AB2-A06 | $6
Discover the history of money with fun activities, too!Story of World War II | AB2-A07 | $ 4
History of Space Exploration | AB2-A05 | $ 4
A detailed coloring book with a summary of space travel from 1926 to 1986.African American Focus Focus & Activities -
Included in Full Program
They’ll follow along through the African American struggle first for the legal recognition of their equal rights under the law during the Civil War, then their struggle for true equality in the Civil Rights movement. We
recommend these resources as the topics covered are pivotal to understanding later American history.Kids Guide to African American History | AB2-E06 | $15
Jam-packed with activities and studies of the influential people and events that shaped our country’s African-American history.Great Black Heroes: Five Notable Inventors | AB2-E07 | $ 4
Great Black Heroes: Five Bold Freedom Fighters | AB2-E08 | $ 4
Great Black Heroes: Five Brilliant Scientists | AB2-E09 | $ 4
Each book examines fi ve African Americans who changed American life and beyond because of their ideas or ideals.Great African Americans | AB2-E10 | $ 4
This art coloring book has an entry on each person’s life.Black Frontiers: A History of African American Heroes in the Old West | AB2-E11 | $ 9
Several African Americans are profiled in exciting stories of courage and accomplishment in the American West.
You will need to purchase separately this
NECESSARY ADDITIONAL RESOURCE:Children’s Encyclopedia of American History | AB1-H16 | $30
A comprehensive book that gives a good overview of American history. Gorgeous pictures accent an easy, yet thorough look at the most important events in American History. This book is 304 pages long, and will be a wonderful addition to your family library for years to come. NOTE: This book is used for both American Story 1 and 2, and thus you need to purchase this resource if you did not purchase it for use with American Story 1. A little more than half of this book is used for the portion of American history in American Story 2.
EITHER #AB1-H00 - "The American Story: 100 True Tales from American History"
OR #AB1-H16 - "Children's Encyclopedia of American History"
Want to use American Story 2 with a 5-6th grade student?
Perhaps you'd like to see our American II Middler SetPerfect for the family who’d like to use this study and include older students, this add-on set offers books and resources designed to be completed independently. The set includes history books, a government study, and a U.S. States and geography study that is continued from the American 1 Middler Set. The set also comes with substitute independent study schedules that can be used in place of those included in the themed program guidebook. These independent study schedules map out the work in the middler program as well as all the work already included in the basic set, making it a well-rounded program for an older student. You'll also be glad to know that creative writing suggestions in LA 4, LA 5, and LA 6 give you flexibility and choices for using American Story 2 with your older student.
Additional Necessary Products to Complete Your Program
We also offer these products that coordinate with your American 2 Program and are necessary for completion of the program if you haven’t already purchased these products:
Your Choice of American 2 Timeline Figures
Timelines in History
Old Style Map SetChildren’s Encyclopedia of American History
What Consumables are Needed for Extra Students?
For an extra student using the Full or Reduced Program,
purchase an extra of these:
“Make-Your-Own” American History 2 Book (AB2-M)
American Achievements Activity Pack (AB2-A03)These consumables can be shared by two students,
but if you are schooling more than 2 students, also add:
Gold Rush Kit (AB2-A02)
Civil War Paper Soldiers (AB2-A01)
Spy Science (AB2-A04)For an extra student using the Middler Set, purchase only the consumables noted above.
There are no additional consumables in the Middler Set.Perhaps you’d like to see the Language Arts Programs
that coordinate with “American Story 2:”Second Grade Language Arts
Third Grade Language Arts
Fourth Grade Language ArtsThese Programs Below Coordinate with Our American 1 Middler's Program:
Fifth Grade Language Arts
Sixth Grade Language Arts
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding this Program
I have several students to school, and one or more of them is younger than 2nd grade -- will this work for me?
If most of your students fit the recommended target ages for American 2 (grades 2-4), it should work fine for you to add a student on who is younger to simplify things for your family. However, you should be aware that the themes and topics covered in American 2 are more abstract than those covered in American 1, overall. Thus, if most of your students are younger than the targeted ages, and/or your oldest student is at the younger end of the targeted age range, you may be better suited by starting with one of our younger programs. You’ll also want to take a look at the answer to the next question!I’ve already got a few of the items in the package. Can I still get the package price and leave them out?
We love to offer our package prices to our parents to help them purchase a great program with a great discount. We do, however, have to sell all the items in the package in order to honor the discount. Usually the discount outweighs the value of the resources you might already have. If not, you can choose items individually to build your program, but remember -- the purchase of a themed program package ensures you also get free shipping, another discount you’ll want to take into account as you look at your total purchase.
How do the Language Arts coordinate with this program?
We have several language arts programs that coordinate with our “American Story 2” program. One of the wonderful features of our LA guides is that they are hole-punched on the right side so they will lay directly across from your themed guide so you can see your week at a glance. “LA 2,” “LA 3,” and “LA 4” each have reading lists right at their respective grade levels to enable students to experience comfortable reading growth. Creative writing for students follows the goals of their grade level program, yet draws its subjects from American topics covered in your main study. You can link to any of these program in the section above these questions. There are also creative writing suggestions in “LA 5” and “LA 6” for those students using our Middler Program for American 2. Although there are no readers for “LA 5” or “LA6” at this time, students might enjoy assembling their own reading list for these two programs.
