Bridging American History to the Present
My American Story is a five-book series that inspires an understanding of the development of United States democracy, government, and citizenship. This series interweaves defining moments and figures from the nation’s history with the diverse experiences of today’s Americans. Above all, the books demonstrate how the origins of American institutions and values are relevant to young people’s lives today.
What makes My American Story stand out?
- Mapped to Civics and US History curricula for Grades 2–4
- Relates history to modern experiences through primary sources
- Includes a diverse range of voices to ensure all readers feel included in the concepts being discussed
- Provides definitions of key vocabulary and concepts
- Links to English Language Arts (ELA) core standards, giving teachers more opportunities to use in class
- Available in English and Spanish
Plus, make the most out of the series with the How My Vote Counts activity pack, as well as DK Learning’s free lesson plans for each book, available in both English and Spanish!
How My Vote Counts
What does it mean to be a citizen?
Explores what it means to be a citizen of the USA, with a focus on both rights and responsibilities of citizens, political involvement, and ways of obtaining citizenship.
Topics include: Colonial era, Bill of Rights, slavery, the Civil War and emancipation, participation in elections, and immigration.
Inspires young learners to explore rights and responsibilities of citizens through the nation’s history and the experience of modern Americans Part of an inspiring series of books that will support st...
GradesGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectCivicsLesson Plan: How My Vote Counts (My American Story)
Grades 2–4 Lesson Plan including curricula links, teaching sequence, and activity ideas. Teach your class the key ideas around the roles of the citizen in American democracy. What does it mean to be a...
GradesGrade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectCivicsELA (English Language Arts)Social StudiesCuentan con mi voto (How My Vote Counts)
Inspira jóvenes curiosos a explorar los derechos y las responsabilidades de ciudadanos a lo largo de la historia y cómo es la vida en EE. UU. hoy en día Parte de una serie inspirante que apoya el apre...
GradesGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectLanguagesCivicsLesson Plan: Cuentan con mi voto (How My Vote Counts) (My American Story)
Grados 2-4 Plan de clase incluyendo los vínculos a la currícula, enseñanza de secuencias además de ideas para actividades. Enseña a tu clase las ideas claves en cuanto a los roles del ciudadano en la ...
GradesIB PYPGrade 2Grade 3Grade 4SubjectCivicsELA (English Language Arts)Social Studies
Power for the People
How does our government work?
Introduces the institutions and systems of American government and the reasons for them, including the role of President, Congress, the Supreme Court, and state government.
Topics include: The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, elections, and key historical presidents (including Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Reagan, Obama).
Inspires young learners to explore America’s government institutions through the nation’s history and the experience of modern Americans Part of an inspiring series of books that will support students...
GradesGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectCivicsLesson Plan: Power For The People (My American Story)
Grades 2–4 Lesson Plan including curricula links, teaching sequence, and activity ideas. Teach your class about the institutions and systems of American government as a constitutional republic, and th...
GradesGrade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectCivicsELA (English Language Arts)Social StudiesEl poder del pueblo (Power for the People)
Inspira jóvenes curiosos a explorar las instituciones estadounidenses a lo largo de la historia de la nación y cómo es la vida en EE. UU. hoy en día Parte de una serie inspirante que apoya el aprendiz...
GradesGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectLanguagesCivicsLesson Plan: El poder del pueblo (Power for the People) (My American Story)
Grados 2-4 Plan de clase incluyendo los vínculos a la currícula, enseñanza de secuencias además de ideas para actividades. Enseña a tu clase sobre las instituciones y sistemas del gobierno Americano c...
GradesGrade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectCivicsELA (English Language Arts)Social Studies
Making the Rules
What does our government do?
Explores the impact of government on daily life, including raising money through taxation, security, protecting citizens’ rights, organization, and providing services.
Topics include: The different roles and responsibilities of federal and state government: security during wartime, providing services, and supporting people in need of help.
Inspires young learners to explore America’s government institutions through the nation’s history and the experience of modern Americans Part of an inspiring series of books that supports students in ...
GradesGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectCivicsLesson Plan: Making The Rules (My American Story)
Grades 2–4 Lesson Plan including curricula links, teaching sequence, and activity ideas. Teach your class how the government operates and its impact on daily life, including raising money through taxa...
GradesGrade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectCivicsELA (English Language Arts)Social StudiesCrear leyes (Making the Rules)
Inspira jóvenes curiosos a explorar el impacto del gobierno a lo largo de la historia de la nación y cómo es la vida en EE. UU. hoy en día : Parte de una serie inspirante que apoya el aprendizaje acer...
GradesGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectLanguagesCivicsLesson Plan: Crear leyes (Making the Rules) (My American Story)
Grados 2-4 Plan de clase incluyendo los vínculos a la currícula, enseñanza de secuencias además de ideas para actividades. Enseña a tu clase cómo opera el gobierno y su impacto en la vida cotidiana, i...
GradesIB PYPGrade 2Grade 3Grade 4SubjectCivicsELA (English Language Arts)Social Studies
Our Traditions
What symbols and celebrations do Americans share?
Introduces and analyzes the history of symbols and traditions of American life and how they relate to modern Americans.
Topics include: The US flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, the White House, the Capitol, National holidays such as Veterans Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving.
Inspires young learners to explore America’s government institutions through the nation’s history and the experience of modern Americans Part of an inspiring series of books that will support students...
GradesGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectCivicsLesson Plan: Our Traditions (My American Story)
Grades 2–4 Lesson Plan including curricula links, teaching sequence, and activity ideas. Teach your class symbols of American life such as the U.S. flag, Pledge of Allegiance, White House, and Capitol...
GradesIB PYPGrade 2Grade 3Grade 4SubjectCivicsSocial StudiesELA (English Language Arts)Nuestras tradiciones (Our Traditions)
Inspira jóvenes curiosos a explorar los símbolos y las tradiciones estadounidenses a lo largo de la historia y cómo es la vida en EE. UU. hoy en día Parte de una serie inspirante que apoya el aprendiz...
GradesGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectLanguagesCivicsLesson Plan: Nuestras tradiciones (Our Traditions) (My American Story)
Grados 2-4 Plan de clase incluyendo los vínculos a la currícula, enseñanza de secuencias además de ideas para actividades. Enseña a tu clase los símbolos de la vida Americana tales como la bandera, el...
GradesGrade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectCivicsSocial StudiesELA (English Language Arts)
Getting Our Voices Heard
How can Americans change our society?
Delves into the history of civic participation, from local community movements to voting and civil rights campaigns.
Topics include: The American Revolution, the campaign against slavery, women’s voting rights, the Civil Rights Movement, and key figures such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.
Inspires young learners to explore America’s government institutions through the nation’s history and the experience of modern Americans Part of an inspiring series of books that will support students...
GradesGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectCivicsLesson Plan: Getting Our Voices Heard (My American Story)
Grades 2–4 Lesson Plan including curricula links, teaching sequence, and activity ideas. Teach your class how people have campaigned for change throughout the history of the United States, including t...
GradesGrade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectCivicsELA (English Language Arts)Social StudiesHacer que nos escuchen (Getting Our Voices Heard)
Inspira jóvenes curiosos a explorar cómo los estadounidenses se aliaron en la campaña por el cambio a lo largo de la historia y cómo es la vida en EE. UU. hoy en día Parte de una serie inspirante que ...
GradesGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4IB PYPSubjectLanguagesCivicsLesson Plan: Hacer que nos escuchen (Getting Our Voices Heard) (My American Story)
Grados 2-4 Plan de clase incluyendo los vínculos a la currícula, enseñanza de secuencias además de ideas para actividades. Enseña a tu clase sobre cómo las personas han hecho campañas para obtener cam...
GradesIB PYPGrade 2Grade 3Grade 4SubjectCivicsELA (English Language Arts)Social Studies
