The New Nation

In this unit, kids dive into the people and places connected to the early days of American history. Vicariously, they travel by wagon on the Wilderness Road across the Appalachian Mountains to the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys. They navigate the Ohio River to the mighty Mississippi by flatboat. All to make a home in the new nation.

In this unit, kids get an up-close look at pioneering life – from daily chores to the building of a log cabin. They get to know legendary characters like Johnny Appleseed and little-known heroes like African American John Malvin, who transported enslaved people to freedom along the Ohio River and Erie Canal. Visually oriented kids will want to spend time with the many maps and graphs that depict the growth of the region. Kids also have a chance to get acquainted with some of the region’s folk heroes, like Paul Bunyan. Those with a keen sense of adventure will want to follow Lewis and Clark’s group across the Louisiana Purchase and beyond. And who wouldn’t want to end the journey with the “Era of Good Feelings,” a time brought about by the unity felt in defeating a major European force in the War of 1812.