Nevada Early American History Lessons for Elementary, Grades 1–4
Nevada Early American History Lessons for Elementary, Grades 1–4
Nevada elementary teachers looking for early American history lessons that are planned, respectful and built on real source work can use the Early American History Bundle. Eight units cover Native Americans, explorers, the Pilgrims, pioneers, timelines, historical sources and school and family life then and now, for $99.99. The units are general U.S. history and contain nothing specific to Nevada.
See the early American unitsFor early American history in Nevada Grades 1–4, the Early American History Bundle ($99.99) gives you eight complete units: Native Americans, explorers, Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving, pioneers on the frontier, timelines, historical sources, and school and family life then and now. Each unit has three sub-units with lesson plans, differentiated worksheets, a source or project activity, answer keys and slides. It is not aligned to the Nevada Academic Content Standards: Social Studies and has no Nevada content.
The resources
Early American History Bundle, Grades 1–4
8 resources in one download: $99.99 instead of $199.92 bought separately.
Start with the first resource; the others are optional add-ons. Open any cover for the full contents and price.
Early American History Bundle | Native Americans, Explorers, Pilgrims & Pioneers | 8 Units | Grades 1–4
Elementary History Curriculum | All 20 History Units | Grades 1–4
Ancient Civilizations Bundle | Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, Vikings & Stone Age | 8 Units | Grades 1–4
Civics & Civil Rights Bundle | Martin Luther King Jr., Voting, Direct Democracy & Freedom of the Press | 4 Resources | Grades 5–9
The real problem
Where early American history sits in Nevada's elementary grades
Nevada's social studies expectations are set out in the Nevada Academic Content Standards: Social Studies, in a document revised in September 2018. Each elementary grade has its own theme. Grade 1 is The Community We Live In & the Work We Do. Grade 2 is Our National Identity & Culture. Grade 3 is Movement Around Our World, Grade 4 is Nevada: Past & Present, and Grade 5 turns to The U.S. – Creating a New Nation. Early American history does not get its own grade before fifth, so in Grades 1 to 4 teachers tend to fit pieces of it inside other themes, for example national identity in second grade, movement in third, or background to the state's own past in fourth. Your district guide decides what actually belongs where. That makes planning awkward. A teacher needs a lesson on explorers or pioneers that fits inside a theme, not a full history course. The topics also need care. Lessons on Native Americans, Pilgrims and explorers have to be accurate and respectful, avoid old classroom myths, and show young children how we know what happened. Writing those lessons well, with age-appropriate reading and real sources, takes far more time than most elementary teachers have in a week.
Why it fits
How the eight units slot into Nevada's grade themes
Because each unit stands alone, you can pull the ones that fit your grade's theme. Here is how they line up in practice.
- Native Americans: First Peoples of North America treats the first inhabitants factually and respectfully.
- Explorers & the Voyage to the Americas fits a third grade focus on movement and travel.
- Pilgrims & the First Thanksgiving gives second grade a careful unit on national traditions and their history.
- Pioneers & Life on the Frontier shows how people moved west and lived, useful background before Grade 4.
- Traces of the Past and Timelines teach young students how historians find out about the past.
- School and Family Life Then and Now ties early American history to students' own community and work.
Getting started
A suggested way to place the units by grade
Nevada districts set their own sequence within the state themes. This is one possible arrangement; adapt it to your district's guide.
- Check your grade's theme and guideRead your grade's section of the Nevada Academic Content Standards: Social Studies and your district's pacing guide. Mark which of the eight units sit inside it and skip the rest.
- Grade 1: start with community and workFirst grade teachers can use School Then and Now and Family & Daily Life Then and Now to show how community life and work have changed.
- Grade 2: teach First Peoples and PilgrimsIn second grade, teach Native Americans first and then Pilgrims & the First Thanksgiving, so students hear both perspectives well before the November holiday arrives.
- Grade 3: follow explorers and pioneersThird grade can use Explorers & the Voyage to the Americas and Pioneers & Life on the Frontier to show people moving across oceans and continents.
- Grade 4: build source skillsBefore Nevada: Past & Present, teach Traces of the Past and Timelines & Measuring Time. Students then bring source and timeline skills to their state history study.
What to buy
The right history set for your grade
For early American topics across Grades 1–4, the Early American History Bundle at $99.99 is the focused choice, against $199.92 for the eight units bought separately. If you also want ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, China and other periods, the Elementary History Curriculum ($169.99, all 20 units, parts $499.80) includes these eight and more. The Ancient Civilizations Bundle ($99.99) covers the ancient strand alone. Fourth and fifth grade teachers moving toward civics may add the Civics & Civil Rights Bundle ($54.99, Grades 5–9), with Martin Luther King Jr., voting and freedom of the press.
Honest limits
What the bundle leaves to you
The units were written for any U.S. classroom, not for Nevada. There is no Nevada history, no unit on Nevada's tribes and no standards codes. Check each unit against the Nevada Academic Content Standards: Social Studies and your district guide, and bring Grade 4 Nevada content from state or district sources. Printing and project materials are yours to supply. The licence covers your own classes; for grade-level or school use, send Teach Lessons a short message first. If it is not a fit, you can exchange it within 7 days for store credit of equal value.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is this aligned to the Nevada Academic Content Standards for Social Studies?
No. The bundle is not aligned to, approved by or endorsed by the Nevada Department of Education or any district. Some units sit naturally inside the Grade 2 and Grade 3 themes, but you should compare each unit with the standards and your district guide yourself before using it.
Does it include Nevada history for fourth grade?
No. Nevada: Past & Present is the Grade 4 theme, and this bundle has no Nevada-specific units. What it can do is prepare students with timeline and source skills, plus pioneer and First Peoples background. The state history itself needs to come from Nevada or district materials.
How are Native Americans and the Pilgrims presented?
Factually and respectfully. Native Americans: First Peoples of North America presents the first inhabitants of the continent as people with their own ways of life, and the Pilgrims unit treats the first Thanksgiving as history rather than legend. Read each unit first so you can add local tribal perspectives where your district asks for them.
What is in each unit?
Each unit has an overview and three ready-to-teach sub-units. Every sub-unit includes a step-by-step lesson plan, a differentiated worksheet with a reading passage and word bank, a project or primary-source activity, a complete answer key and slides. You can teach a full unit or pick single sub-units.
Can a first grade teacher use it?
Yes. The bundle is written for Grades 1–4. For Nevada's Grade 1 theme on community and work, the then-and-now units on school and family life fit most naturally. Read the passages aloud with younger students and use the word bank to support early and emerging readers.
How do I get the files?
All eight units are digital downloads. The link arrives by email right after purchase, and the files also stay in your customer account under Orders, so you can download them again at any time. Print only the pages you need, or show the slides on your classroom screen.
Plan your early American history lessons
Open the product page to see all eight units and choose the ones that fit your Nevada grade theme.
See the early American units