North Carolina Elementary Social Studies: 20 History Units for Grades 1–4
For North Carolina elementary social studies, the Elementary History Curriculum gives you all 20 of the store's Grades 1–4 history units in one download, several of which sit close to the state's early grades. The then-and-now units match the Grade 1 focus on communities changing over time, and the early America units suit Grade 2. North Carolina history for Grade 4 is not included.
Browse all 20 history unitsThe Elementary History Curriculum ($169.99) is the full set of 20 elementary history units for Grades 1–4: school, family, trades and inventions then and now, Native Americans, explorers, Pilgrims and pioneers, timelines and historical sources, and ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, the Stone Age, Vikings, knights and medieval towns. Each unit has an overview and three planned sub-units. It is general elementary history, not written for the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
The resources
Elementary History Curriculum, Grades 1–4
20 resources in one download: $169.99 instead of $499.80 bought separately.
Start with the first resource; the others are optional add-ons. Open any cover for the full contents and price.
Elementary History Curriculum | All 20 History Units | Grades 1–4
Early American History Bundle | Native Americans, Explorers, Pilgrims & Pioneers | 8 Units | Grades 1–4
Ancient Civilizations Bundle | Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, Vikings & Stone Age | 8 Units | Grades 1–4
Complete Learning Books Bundle | 10 Units: Grammar, Math, Science, History, ESL, Art & Music | Grades 3–6
Teach-Life-Balance: The Complete Time-Saving Course for Teachers (incl. Planner, Guides & Templates)
The real problem
How North Carolina sequences social studies before Grade 5
North Carolina's K–12 social studies standards were adopted on February 4, 2021, put into classrooms in fall 2021, and are listed as In Review as of 2026. The elementary years build outward from the child. Kindergarten looks at people and change over time and at life in the past compared with today. Grade 1 asks how people's experiences and achievements changed communities over time. Grade 2 turns to American history and the contributions of various groups. Grade 3 studies local communities and the events that affected them, and Grade 4 is North Carolina History, from pre-colonial times to the present, before Grade 5 takes on United States History. The difficulty for teachers is that this sequence leans on concepts more than on a fixed list of events. Change over time, sources and contributions are easy to state and hard to teach to a six- or seven-year-old without concrete material. Teachers also have very little time, because social studies in the early grades competes with literacy blocks. What helps is planned units that give children something real to compare: a classroom in the past and today, a village craft and a modern job, a timeline they build themselves.
Why it fits
Which units fit which North Carolina grade
None of the units was written for North Carolina. Several, though, give the early grades exactly the kind of concrete material described above.
- School Then and Now and Family & Daily Life Then and Now suit Kindergarten and Grade 1.
- Old Trades & Crafts and Inventions That Changed the World show how communities changed over time.
- Native Americans, Explorers, Pilgrims and Pioneers units support Grade 2's focus on American history.
- Timelines & Measuring Time gives every grade a tool for ordering events children study.
- The historical sources unit teaches how we know about the past, useful for Grade 3 local history.
- Ancient world units such as Egypt, Rome and the Vikings serve enrichment, not the state sequence.
Getting started
Spreading 20 units across a North Carolina school
A suggested split for a school or a homeschool family teaching several grades. Move units freely to suit your own plan.
- Kindergarten and Grade 1: then and nowTeach the school, family, trades and inventions units across the year. Each one compares past and present, which is the core idea in both grades and easy to connect to children's own lives.
- Grade 2: early America with careUse Native Americans, explorers, the Pilgrims and pioneers in order, adding your own lessons on the varied groups Grade 2 asks students to learn about. Read each unit first.
- Grade 3: sources for local historyTeach the historical sources and timelines units early, then let students apply them to your own town. You bring the local photos, maps and stories; the units bring the method.
- Grade 4: background before NC historyThe Native Americans and explorers units can give background before North Carolina history. All North Carolina content, from pre-colonial times on, comes from your own state materials.
- Ancient world as enrichmentEgypt, Greece, Rome, China, the Stone Age, Vikings and knights are not in North Carolina's K–4 sequence. Use them for clubs, summer school, early finishers or homeschool siblings.
What to buy
All 20 units, or a smaller set?
The Elementary History Curriculum ($169.99, $499.80 for the 20 units bought separately) makes sense if several grades or several children will use it, or if you want the ancient world units for enrichment. If you only teach Grade 2 American history, the Early American History Bundle ($99.99) has the eight early America, timeline, sources and then-and-now units. The Ancient Civilizations Bundle ($99.99) is the ancient world half on its own. Homeschool families wanting a multi-subject set for Grades 3–6 can compare the Complete Learning Books Bundle ($99.90), and Teach-Life-Balance ($89.90) is a separate planning course.
Honest limits
What to keep in mind for North Carolina
This is general elementary history, not written for North Carolina. It has no North Carolina history for Grade 4, no local community content for Grade 3, and no NCSCOS codes, and the standards themselves are under review. Check every unit against the current North Carolina social studies standards for your grade and add state and local sources yourself. The licence covers your own teaching; a grade-level team or school should send Teach Lessons a short message first. Within 7 days you can exchange it for store credit of equal value if it is not a fit; there are no cash refunds.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Does it match the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for social studies?
No. The Elementary History Curriculum is not aligned with, approved under or endorsed by the North Carolina Standard Course of Study or the Department of Public Instruction. Some units overlap with Grade 1 and Grade 2 themes, but there are no NCSCOS codes. Compare the units with the current standards, which are under review, before you rely on them.
Is there anything on North Carolina history for Grade 4?
No. None of the 20 units covers North Carolina people, places or events. The Native Americans and explorers units give general background on the first peoples of North America and the voyages to the Americas, but your Grade 4 North Carolina content has to come from other sources.
What is in one unit?
An overview and three ready-to-teach sub-units. Every sub-unit has 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. All 20 units follow that same structure. Children learn the routine quickly.
How are sensitive topics like Native Americans and Pilgrims treated?
Factually and respectfully, written for young children. The Native Americans unit presents the first peoples of North America with their own ways of life, and the Pilgrims unit covers the first Thanksgiving as history. Read them before teaching, and consider adding sources on Native nations in North Carolina.
Can a North Carolina homeschool family use it?
Yes. Each lesson is planned, so a parent can teach it without extra preparation, and siblings in different grades can share units. It is one history resource, not a statement about home school requirements. Check current rules with the Division of Non-Public Education or a homeschool legal resource.
Can I buy only some of the units?
Yes. Every unit is also sold on its own for $24.99 and linked on the bundle page, and the Early American History and Ancient Civilizations bundles each hold eight units. All 20 bought separately cost $499.80, compared with $169.99 for the full curriculum. Mixing a bundle with single units also works.
Plan K–4 history once, use it for years
Open the product page to see all 20 unit titles and decide which belong in each grade at your school.
Browse all 20 history units