Examine the Past · Curriculum and Learning Hub

History Hub

Explore an organized Grade 5–12 history and social studies curriculum, followed by specialized learning pathways. Each course opens an expandable unit map and individual lesson previews. All learning resources remain free.

8 grade-level courses7 extended and advanced pathways309 planned lesson slots

GRADE 5

Early American History

Indigenous America to the Early Republic

Indigenous societies, Atlantic encounters, colonial America, independence and the early republic.

7 units / pathways

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Indigenous North America — Indigenous societies, geography
Exploration and Encounters — European exploration, Indigenous encounters
Colonial America — Thirteen colonies, settlement
Imperial Conflict — French and Indian War, British policy
The American Revolution — Independence, revolutionary conflict
Creating a Republic — Articles of Confederation, Constitution
The Early Republic — Federalism, political parties

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GRADE 6

Ancient World History & Geography

Civilizations, Geography, and Human Development

Geography, early civilizations, governments, beliefs, trade and human environments.

6 units / pathways

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Geography and Historical Investigation — Geography and Historical Investigation, Reading Maps Like a Historian
Origins of Civilizations — Origins of Civilizations, From Hunting and Gathering to Agriculture
River Valley Civilizations — River Valley Civilizations, Mesopotamia and the First Cities
Ancient Government and Culture — Ancient Government and Culture, Laws and Leadership in Ancient Societies
Trade, Migration, and Exchange — Trade, Migration, and Exchange, Ancient Trade Networks
People and Their Environments — People and Their Environments, Water and the Development of Civilizations

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GRADE 7

World Cultures & Geography

Societies, Regions, and Global Connections

World regions, migration, cultures, exchanges, governments and human-environment relations.

6 units / pathways

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World Regions and Cultural Identity — World Regions and Cultural Identity, Understanding World Regions
Migration and Settlement — Migration and Settlement, Why Do People Migrate?
Trade Networks and Connections — Trade Networks and Connections, The Silk Roads and Global Connections
Government and Economic Systems — Government and Economic Systems, Comparing Political Systems
Culture, Religion, and Society — Culture, Religion, and Society, World Religions and Cultural Exchange
Human-Environment Relationships — Human-Environment Relationships, How Geography Shapes Daily Life

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GRADE 8

Early United States History

Colonial Foundations through Reconstruction

Revolution, Constitution, reform, slavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction.

8 units / pathways

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Colonial Foundations — Colonial Foundations, British Colonial Development
Revolution and Independence — Revolution and Independence, The Road to Revolution
Constitution and Government — Constitution and Government, The Articles of Confederation
The Early Republic — The Early Republic, Washington's Presidency
Expansion and Reform — Expansion and Reform, Manifest Destiny and Territorial Expansion
Slavery and Sectional Conflict — Slavery and Sectional Conflict, The Expansion of Slavery
The Civil War — The Civil War, Secession and the Outbreak of War
Reconstruction — Reconstruction, Rebuilding the Nation

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GRADE 9

United States History

1865 to the Present

Modern U.S. transformation through economic, political, social and international history.

11 units / pathways

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Reconstruction and Industrial Growth — Reconstruction and Industrial Growth, Reconstruction's Unfinished Legacy
Progressivism and Reform — Progressivism and Reform, The Progressive Movement
Imperialism and Expansion — Imperialism and Expansion, Why Did America Become an Overseas Power?
World War I — World War I, Causes of World War I
The Roaring Twenties — The Roaring Twenties, A Changing American Culture
Great Depression and New Deal — Great Depression and New Deal, The Stock Market Crash and Economic Crisis
World War II — World War II, Causes of World War II
The Cold War — The Cold War, Origins of the Cold War
Civil Rights and Social Change — Civil Rights and Social Change, Segregation and the Fight for Equality
America in the Late Twentieth Century — America in the Late Twentieth Century, Watergate and Public Trust
The United States in the Twenty-First Century — The United States in the Twenty-First Century, September 11 and Its Consequences

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GRADE 10

Civics & Government

American Democracy and Citizenship

Constitutional principles, branches of government, civil rights, elections and civic action.

9 units / pathways

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Foundations of Democracy — Foundations of Democracy, Enlightenment Ideas and Natural Rights
The Constitution — The Constitution, The Constitutional Convention
The Legislative Branch — The Legislative Branch, How Congress Is Organized
The Executive Branch — The Executive Branch, The Powers of the President
The Judicial Branch — The Judicial Branch, Understanding the Federal Court System
Civil Rights and Liberties — Civil Rights and Liberties, The Bill of Rights
Elections and Political Participation — Elections and Political Participation, How American Elections Work
State and Local Government — State and Local Government, State Government and Federalism
Public Policy and Civic Action — Public Policy and Civic Action, How Public Policy Is Developed

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GRADE 11

Modern World History

Approximately 1300 to the Present

Global exchange, revolutions, imperialism, world wars, decolonization and interdependence.

11 units / pathways

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Global Connections and Transformation — Global Connections and Transformation, The World Around 1300
Renaissance and Reformation — Renaissance and Reformation, Renaissance Humanism and Art
Exploration and Global Empires — Exploration and Global Empires, Maritime Exploration and Expansion
Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment — Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment, A New Scientific Worldview
Political Revolutions — Political Revolutions, The French Revolution
Industrial Revolution — Industrial Revolution, Why Industrialization Began
Imperialism and Resistance — Imperialism and Resistance, The New Imperialism
World War I — World War I, Causes of the First World War
Interwar Years and World War II — Interwar Years and World War II, Global Depression and Political Instability
Cold War and Decolonization — Cold War and Decolonization, The Cold War and Global Rivalries
The Contemporary World — The Contemporary World, Globalization and Interdependence

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GRADE 12

Social Studies Electives

Advanced Historical and Social Inquiry

Five introductory elective pathways in historical inquiry and social studies.

5 units / pathways

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Historical Research and Historiography — Historical Research and Historiography, What Do Historians Actually Do?
Economics and Society — Economics and Society, Scarcity, Choice, and Opportunity Cost
Comparative Government — Comparative Government, Democracy and Authoritarianism
Human Geography — Human Geography, Population and Migration Patterns
Social and Cultural History — Social and Cultural History, Understanding History Through Everyday Life

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EXTENDED

Black History

Africa, African America, and Historical Legacy

Two one-semester courses and the 141-figure Heroes lesson library.

3 units / pathways

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African History — One-semester introductory course
African American History — One-semester introductory course
Black History Heroes Lessons — 141 illustrated historical-figure learning experiences

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EXTENDED

United States Presidents

Presidential Leadership and American Democracy

Presidential leadership, constitutional decisions, power and historical interpretation.

4 units / pathways

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Origins of the Presidency — Origins of the Presidency, Why Did the Framers Create a President?
Leadership and National Crisis — Leadership and National Crisis, Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War
The Modern Presidency — The Modern Presidency, Theodore Roosevelt and Progressive Reform
Comparing Presidents — Comparing Presidents, How Should Historians Evaluate Presidents?

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EXTENDED

Hispanic American History

Heritage, Migration, Identity, and Influence

Hispanic and Latino histories, migration, civil rights, culture and public life.

4 units / pathways

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Spanish Colonial America and Early Hispanic Communities — Spanish Colonial America and Early Hispanic Communities, Indigenous Civilizations and Spanish Colonization
Expansion, Migration, and Citizenship — Expansion, Migration, and Citizenship, The Mexican-American War and Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Rights, Leadership, and Cultural Influence — Rights, Leadership, and Cultural Influence, César Chávez, Dolores Huerta, and Farmworker Organizing
Contemporary Hispanic American Experiences — Contemporary Hispanic American Experiences, Hispanic Communities and American Demographic Change

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EXTENDED

World Religions

Belief, Society, and Historical Exchange

History of belief, culture and exchange.

3 units · 12 planned lessons

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Comparative Historical Study
Belief Across Regions
Religion and History

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ADVANCED

AP U.S. History

Advanced U.S. Historical Inquiry

Independent advanced historical inquiry.

3 units · 12 planned lessons

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Foundations and the Republic
Transformation and Conflict
The Modern United States

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ADVANCED

AP World History

Advanced Global Inquiry

Independent advanced world-history inquiry.

3 units · 12 planned lessons

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Networks and Regions
Global Transformation
The Modern World

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ADVANCED

AP Government & Politics

Advanced Civic Inquiry

Independent advanced civics inquiry.

3 units · 12 planned lessons

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Constitutional Principles
Institutions
Civic Participation

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Instructional Design Portfolio

Designed for Historical Inquiry and Meaningful Learning

Curriculum maps progress from essential questions and observable learning objectives through sourced historical investigation, supported practice, evidence-based assessment, feedback, differentiation and reflection. Unit and lesson previews reveal the planned structure while completed resources remain available through their original links.

Backward design and standards awarenessHistorical thinking and disciplinary literacyPrimary/secondary source interpretationBloom’s revised taxonomy and varied inquiryUDL access and differentiated tasksFormative checks, performance tasks, feedback

Original educator-developed materials; not represented as an external school district curriculum or an authorized AP course.

Review Curriculum Design Example

How We Design Curriculum

Examine the Past is independently organized by educators around essential questions, historical investigation, source evidence, applied learning and assessment. Historical themes are common across education; our instructional scope, learning sequences and experiences are designed for this site.

Curriculum Design Overview

Learning progresses from accessible historical foundations into comparative analysis, interpretation and evidence-based argument. Our advanced study pathways are independent educational plans and are not AP-authorized courses.