Bring History to Life
Through her eyes
A History & Literacy Guide Inspired by Stories from the American Girl Series
View DetailsBring History to Life
Through her eyes
A History & Literacy Guide Inspired by Stories from the American Girl Series
Yes! I Want This!Bring History to Life
Through her eyes
A History & Literacy Guide Inspired by Stories from the American Girl Series
Yes! I Want This!Bring History to Life
Through her eyes
A History & Literacy Guide Inspired by Stories from the American Girl Series
View DetailsBring History to Life
Through her eyes
A History & Literacy Guide Inspired by Stories from the American Girl Series
Yes! I Want This!Bring History to Life
Through her eyes
A History & Literacy Guide Inspired by Stories from the American Girl Series
View DetailsBring History to Life
Through her eyes
A History & Literacy Guide Inspired by Stories from the American Girl Series
Yes! I Want This!Bring History to Life
Through her eyes
A History & Literacy Guide Inspired by Stories from the American Girl Series
Bring History to Life
Through her eyes
A History & Literacy Guide Inspired by Stories from the American Girl Series
This curriculum is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced by American Girl® or Mattel®. American Girl® and the names of the characters, books, and other elements referenced within this guide are trademarks of Mattel®, used here under fair use for educational purposes only. This guide was independently created by Simply September as a supplemental educational resource for families who wish to dive deeper into American history while reading the American Girl® historical fiction series.
Peek Inside the Learning Experience
This literature-based curriculum is inspired by the rich historical fiction found in the American Girl® book series and is designed to pair seamlessly with the stories of the original eight characters: Kaya, Felicity, Josefina, Kirsten, Addy, Samantha, Kit, and Molly. Each unit invites readers to connect more deeply with the characters and their time periods through chapter-by-chapter reflection and comprehension activities. The learning then expands with engaging features such as “A Moment in History,” “A Woman in History,” geography tie-ins, era-appropriate crafts and recipes, compare and contrast prompts, interactive activity ideas, and “Digging Deeper” extensions. Whether you're reading these beloved stories for the first time or revisiting them as part of your homeschool journey, this curriculum offers a meaningful and memorable way to explore history through literature. Scroll below to preview sample pages and get a feel for what’s included in each unit.
Unit Guide: This overview page provides background information, outlines what’s coming up in the unit, and lists all the books and materials needed to allow for a fun and engaging learning experience.
Reflection Questions: Each historical character’s unit includes a full set of reflection questions for all six books - guide meaningful discussions, strengthen comprehension, and connect personally.
A Woman in History: This page introduces learners to an inspiring woman from the same era, offering a glimpse into real-life stories that complement the character’s world and encourages exploration of women’s history.
Compare & Contrast: This page invites learners to explore similarities and differences between their own lives and those of the historical characters - fostering personal connections.
Era-Appropriate Craft: An easy-to-make craft project that reflects the culture and lifestyle of the character’s historical era, designed to be fun and approachable for learners of all ages.
Meet the Character: This introductory page helps learners connect with the historical figure behind the story by exploring her name, year, family, friends, and key traits — all in an engaging format.
Book Review Templates: Each book features a customizable review page to help students summarize key events, express opinions, and practice writing skills - perfect for reinforcing understanding.
Creative Writing Prompt: A focused writing prompt invites learners to imagine themselves in the character’s time and voice, sparking creativity and personal connection through storytelling and drawings.
Interactive Activity Ideas: This page offers hands-on projects and engaging activities designed to bring history to life, encouraging active participation and deeper learning.
Trivia Activities: Each character features a unique trivia activity—ranging from fill-in-the-blank to word searches and games—designed to test knowledge and make learning about history fun and engaging.
Vocabulary Tracker: As students read, they can collect and define unfamiliar words, building a stronger understanding of historical language and improving reading comprehension along the way.
A Moment in History: This section highlights a key event or cultural detail from the character’s time period, helping learners place the story in historical context and understand the bigger picture.
Geography Exploration: This activity helps learners visualize and understand the geography of the United States during the character’s era, connecting historical events and daily life to real places on the map.
Era-Appropriate Recipe: Discover and prepare authentic recipes from the character’s time period, giving learners a tasty way to connect with history through food and culture.
Digging Deeper: This page extends the learning with curated book recommendations, video suggestions, websites, field trip ideas, and more — perfect for families eager to explore the era beyond the curriculum.
Common Questions
Common Questions
Why You'll Love It
Designed by a mom and occupational therapist, this curriculum combines a deep understanding of child development with a passion for meaningful, hands-on learning. Every activity is thoughtfully created to engage multiple learning styles and support critical thinking. It’s also intentionally low-prep for parents—aside from the books, very few additional materials are needed. Plus, it’s been carefully reviewed by educators and experts to ensure cultural accuracy and respectful representation, making history both accessible and enriching for your child.
Designed by a mom and occupational therapist, this curriculum combines a deep understanding of child development with a passion for meaningful, hands-on learning. Every activity is thoughtfully created to engage multiple learning styles and support critical thinking. It’s also intentionally low-prep for parents—aside from the books, very few additional materials are needed. Plus, it’s been carefully reviewed by educators and experts to ensure cultural accuracy and respectful representation, making history both accessible and enriching for your child.
Why It Works
This curriculum is designed with flexibility in mind — you can skip around, focus on what interests your child, and work at your own pace with no pressure. It expands upon history beyond the books, making learning fun and engaging through a variety of activities that appeal to different learning styles, including reading, hands-on crafts, writing, and interactive projects. Adaptable for a wide age range, it allows you to tailor the experience to fit your child’s needs and keep them excited about discovering the past.
This curriculum is designed with flexibility in mind — you can skip around, focus on what interests your child, and work at your own pace with no pressure. It expands upon history beyond the books, making learning fun and engaging through a variety of activities that appeal to different learning styles, including reading, hands-on crafts, writing, and interactive projects. Adaptable for a wide age range, it allows you to tailor the experience to fit your child’s needs and keep them excited about discovering the past.
Why You'll Love It
Designed by a mom and occupational therapist, this curriculum combines a deep understanding of child development with a passion for meaningful, hands-on learning. Every activity is thoughtfully created to engage multiple learning styles and support critical thinking. It’s also intentionally low-prep for parents—aside from the books, very few additional materials are needed. Plus, it’s been carefully reviewed by educators and experts to ensure cultural accuracy and respectful representation, making history both accessible and enriching for your child.
Designed by a mom and occupational therapist, this curriculum combines a deep understanding of child development with a passion for meaningful, hands-on learning. Every activity is thoughtfully created to engage multiple learning styles and support critical thinking. It’s also intentionally low-prep for parents—aside from the books, very few additional materials are needed. Plus, it’s been carefully reviewed by educators and experts to ensure cultural accuracy and respectful representation, making history both accessible and enriching for your child.
Why It Works
This curriculum is designed with flexibility in mind — you can skip around, focus on what interests your child, and work at your own pace with no pressure. It expands upon history beyond the books, making learning fun and engaging through a variety of activities that appeal to different learning styles, including reading, hands-on crafts, writing, and interactive projects. Adaptable for a wide age range, it allows you to tailor the experience to fit your child’s needs and keep them excited about discovering the past.
This curriculum is designed with flexibility in mind — you can skip around, focus on what interests your child, and work at your own pace with no pressure. It expands upon history beyond the books, making learning fun and engaging through a variety of activities that appeal to different learning styles, including reading, hands-on crafts, writing, and interactive projects. Adaptable for a wide age range, it allows you to tailor the experience to fit your child’s needs and keep them excited about discovering the past.
Inspired by Family, Designed for Learning
Created by a mom inspired by her daughters and their shared love of American Girl, this curriculum builds upon history to make learning meaningful and fun for families.
View Details
Inspired by Family, Designed for Learning
Created by a mom inspired by her daughters and their shared love of American Girl, this curriculum builds upon history to make learning meaningful and fun for families.
View DetailsChoose the Format That Fits Your Style
INSTANT ACCESS
Enjoy the flexibility of our digital curriculum! This PDF download lets you print at home or use on a device—ideal for families who love a clutter-free, portable option.
YES, Digital!
PRINTED HARD COPY
No printer? No problem! This beautifully bound paperback edition arrives at your door ready to go—just open and start learning, perfect for cozy couch lessons or table-time teaching.
YES, Hard Copy!
DIGITAL & PRINT BUNDLE
Get the best of both worlds! This bundle includes instant access to the digital PDF and a professionally printed paperback copy delivered to your door—perfect for flexibility at home and on the go.
YES, Bundle!INSTANT ACCESS
Enjoy the flexibility of our digital curriculum! This PDF download lets you print at home or use on a device—ideal for families who love a clutter-free, portable option.
YES, Digital!PRINTED HARD COPY
No printer? No problem! This beautifully bound paperback edition arrives at your door ready to go—just open and start learning, perfect for cozy couch lessons or table-time teaching.
YES, Hard Copy!DIGITAL & PRINT BUNDLE
Get the best of both worlds! This bundle includes instant access to the digital PDF and a professionally printed paperback copy delivered to your door—perfect for flexibility at home and on the go.
YES, Bundle!There's More to Explore
Hi, I'm Lindsay!
The story of Simply September as a blog began in 2014 while on maternity leave with my youngest daughter. Seeking an outlet to share my love for creativity and motherhood, I began my creative journey.
Over the next couple of years my passion for creativity and design continued to grow. It was then, in the summer of 2018, that I decided to expand my brand into a clothing line, printable shop, and overall Simply September Shop brand.
My products bring together unique design and affordable pricing. I believe in quality, care, and creating unique products that everyone can enjoy. Colorful, creative, and inspired by what I see in everyday life, each product represents what I love about living an everyday creative lifestyle. I am most hopeful these pieces will inspire you as well!