Enhance your American-History-in-a-Box with an expansion pack that looks at history through themes or topics that particularly interest your child. Each pack includes 4 – 7 directly mailed books, an emailed activity packet, and an emailed final project and assessment. Packs follow the Virginia Standards of Learning and look at the major concepts through specific topics. You can choose one of the packs below or write to us for a personalized pack. Cost: Begins at $199.00.
We also provide personalized packs on a variety of topics. Let us know the topic you are interested in and we will work with you to come up with a perfect list of books, games, and resources!
Art in History
For our lower elementary children, we have an expansion pack that looks at the influence of art in our history. We specifically look at slavery and quilting, Winslow Homer in the Civil War, Georgia O’Keefe and architecture during Industrialization, and Romare Bearden’s Harlem Renaissance collages. The books and activities follow the Standards of Learning and allow students to see that art is an important part of history for understanding cultures, movements, and events.
Hamilton and Civics
This packet for upper elementary students explores themes on civics and citizenship. Learn about politics, the branches of government, and how to build your own country. We include four books on the revolution and Alexander Hamilton. If you already have some of our books, we can substitute other options. We will mail the books and resources directly to you and email you the activity packet. Email us at afterschoolplans@gmail.com for the current book list to see if this is the right fit for your child.
Holiday Expansion Pack
Learn more about our federal holidays (excluding Christmas and the New Year) and about the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner with this packet. This packet is perfect for kids who don’t live in the U.S. and aren’t that familiar with U.S. holidays. Best for kids in the lower elementary grades. This is a larger pack with 12 directly mailed books and an emailed activity packet that includes interactive ideas for celebrating the holiday.
Please email us with your selections for an invoice.
Geography Expansion Pack
This expansion pack includes fiction and non-fiction as students explore the states, capitals, regions, and areas of the United States. We include a few games to help you learn the states and capitals as well! This pack is geared for lower elementary students.
Add to your American History Box or purchase individually. Please email us with your selections for an invoice.
Sport Expansion Pack
Does your child love sports? This set is for children in grades 4 through 8. Look at major events and time periods from Exploration to Modern Times but through the lens of sports. For example, learn about World War I while reading about the Christmas Day soccer game across the trenches and look at Civil Rights through the experience of Wilma Rudolph.
Add to your American History Box or purchase individually. Please email us with your selections for an invoice.
Science Expansion Pack
Learn about some of the premier scientists in our history and find out how they were impacted by our history or about how they contributed to or changed the American experience. Our standard pack includes Native American tribes, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Graham Bell, Dian Fossey, and Sally Ride among others. At the end, write out your own experiment using the scientific method.
Add to your American History Box or purchase individually. Please email us with your selections for an invoice.
African-American History Expansion Pack
We look at our history through the lens of some famous Americans with roots in Africa. From former slaves to important Civil Rights leaders and current influencers, this pack looks at some of the most significant contributors to our history including Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Langston Hughes, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Add to your American History Box or purchase individually. Please email us with your selections for an invoice.
Women in History Expansion Pack
We often find that women are under represented in traditional U.S. History courses. Learn about Eleanor Roosevelt, Sally Ride, Abigail Adams, and Harriet Tubman, among others. We can see the contributions of women and their impact on our history through this pack.
Add to your American History Box or purchase individually. Please email us with your selections for an invoice.
Native American Expansion Pack
Personalize your pack by looking at tribes in your state or region. We find books and create activities that help children better understand the native peoples from the places they call home. Look at how location, geography, resources, and history shaped the stories of these tribes.
Add to your history box or purchase individually. Please email us with your selections for an invoice.
Mexico and the United States
Perfect for expats living in Mexico from the U.S. or vice versa, this pack includes books and activities about native people, the Mexican American war, famous artists (Romare Bearden and Diego Rivera) and immigration. The books are sent directly and the activity packet will be emailed.
Purchase individually or add to your history box order. Please email us with your selections for an invoice.
Washington, D.C. Expansion Pack
Going through Washington, D.C., for home leave or R&R? This expansion pack looks at the history of DC, and goes into depth about some of the people and places who made the city their home. Books include a historical walking tour, a survey of our government, and a closer look at some of the memorials. We also include a list of museums and monuments to visit with questions to answer about each site. The books are sent directly and the activity packet will be emailed.
Purchase individually or add to your history box order. Please email us with your selections for an invoice.
Civics Expansion Pack
This expansion pack includes information about the Constitution, citizenship, our political parties, federal life, and the laws and our courts. Learn about the institutions and some of the people important in the history of our country.The books are sent directly and the activity packet will be emailed.
Purchase individually or add to your history box order. Please email us with your selections for an invoice.
American Culture Expansion Pack
Have your child lived abroad for a long time? Learn a bit more about our culture through this expansion pack. We look at tall tales, music (jazz, bluegrass, and blues), symbols of America, our national parks, and the Constitution of the United States.
Purchase individually or add to your history box order. Please email us with your selections for an invoice.
American History in a Box 