In this domain, students will hear about the birth of our country, the United States of America.

They will be introduced to many important historical figures and events as the story unfolds to describe how the thirteen colonies evolved slowly over time from their initial dependence on England to the status of an independent nation.

The overriding focus of this domain is from the perspective of a rather wide lens, i.e., to emphasize the story of how the colonies became an independent nation.

Although students will hear about many people, events, and dates, it is important to recognize that Grade 1 students are not expected to master or recall all of these details and facts. Some specifics are, of course, necessary so that students can understand and retell the story of our nation’s birth.

In addition, students will hear about many different places and geographical concepts in this domain, such as Great Britain, North America, New England, etc.

In the read-alouds at the beginning of the domain, students will hear about the establishment of the thirteen colonies and will learn about the conflicts that ensued between the colonies and Great Britain. They will learn how the imposition of taxes upon the colonies by Britain led to the Boston Tea Party and, eventually, to war between the colonies and Britain, culminating in the Declaration of Independence and the founding of a new nation.

Additional readalouds highlight several particularly important historical figures—Betsy Ross, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson.

Finally, the domain concludes with two read-alouds that focus on the role of women, Native Americans, and African Americans during the colonial time period, as well as important symbols of our nation. Understanding the chronology of events and the importance of certain people—and how they fit together during this formative period of American history—will lay the foundation for another Grade 1 domain, Frontier Explorers.

Parent Letters: A New Nation: American Independence