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The Great American Story: 250 Words for 250 Years

£49.99
£49.99

The Great American Story: 250 Words for 250 Years

Ages 7 - 12
£49.99
£49.99
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Gives the vocabulary to celebrate America's 250th anniversary
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Ready-to-use daily & weekly lesson plans will save you precious time
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Covers 10 themes, from Democracy to Innovation
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Featuring stunning illustrations by Craig Kelman, the artist behind Madagascar and Minions
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Grounded in the vocabulary research of Dr. Susan Neuman, former U.S. Undersecretary of Education

Product Description

This is a once-in-250-years moment. Give your children the words to own it.

Digital product — PDFs delivered by email after purchase. Download or view online instantly.

The Great American Story gives children aged 7–12 the vocabulary to talk about America's 250th anniversary, write about it, and feel genuinely connected to the national conversation.

What's inside:

  • 250 curated words to enrich your vocabulary: handpicked for this historic milestone, spanning the ideas, values, and events that define America
  • Engaging activities throughout: designed to spark discussion, build deep understanding, and keep kids genuinely interested
  • Printable and digital formats: parents and teachers can pick between


What the themes are:

  • Art in America: Explores the words behind America's rich cultural legacy, from Hollywood and jazz to hip-hop, giving kids the vocabulary to talk about the country's creative influence on the world.
  • Togetherness & Belonging: Covers the words kids need to understand and discuss how such a vast and varied nation comes together as one community.
  • Freedom, Rights & Social Justice: Empowers kids to make their voices heard, with vocabulary rooted in the debates, struggles, and bold actions that have shaped American society.
  • Democracy in Action: Builds the essential political vocabulary students need to understand (and help shape) the next 250 years of American democracy.
  • Learning, Science & Discovery: Celebrates America's record of invention and innovation, inspiring kids to discuss the ideas that changed the world.
  • Nature & Environment: Gives students the language to explore America's dramatic landscapes and engage with the real, urgent story of a changing climate.
  • Politics, Activism & Change: Helps kids navigate America's complex, ever-evolving history and future through the vocabulary of ideas, debate, and social change.
  • The American Spirit: Encourages children to explore what it truly means to be American, examining the values and qualities that unite such a diverse nation.
  • Journeys & Frontiers: Covers words connected to myths, stories, and spirit of exploration behind America's origins and its identity as a land of possibility and new beginnings.
  • American Enterprise & Endeavor: Looks at how Americans build and strive, with vocabulary spanning invention, work, protest, and the ambition that has driven 250 years of economic and cultural life.


For teachers:

Everything you need is already built in. Lesson plans are structured for daily or weekly use, fit naturally around existing curriculum, and require zero preparation time. For each word, you'll get:
- Child-friendly definitions that make complex concepts easier to understand
- Word maps that teach synonyms and word pairs
- Short writing exercise to test comprehension and encourage strong writing skills

Display any page on your whiteboard for a whole class discussion or pass printouts around for smaller, more focused group work. Why not decorate your classroom or the corridors too?

For parents:

The Great American Story comes packed with ready-to-use ideas that sneak vocabulary learning into everyday fun. Print a set of illustrations and send the kids on a word hunt around the neighourhood, spotting words on shop signs, billboards, and news headlines. Fold the page to show just the illustration and play charades. Pack a handful of illustrations for the road trip and make it a game: who can use the word democracy in a sentence before you reach the next state? 

Grounded in the vocabulary research of Dr. Susan Neuman, former U.S. Undersecretary of Education. Characters and illustration style created by Craig Kellman (Madagascar). From the makers of The Narrative Journey — proven to deliver 50% vocabulary growth in one term.

📧 How you'll receive your PDFs
After purchase, you'll receive an email with a link to download or view all your word lists — the complete set of 250 words, plus each of the 10 themes as separate PDFs. Can't find the email? Check your spam or junk folder.

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FAQ's

FAQs about The Great American Story

What is The Great American Story?
It's a vocabulary curriculum built around America's 250th anniversary. It gives children 250 carefully chosen words — organised into 10 themes like Democracy, Freedom, Science, and Belonging — so they have the language to understand and discuss one of America's biggest national moments.

Who is it for?
It's built for children aged 7 to 12, but designed for their teachers to display in class. However, it works equally well for parents and homeschoolers.

What's actually in it?
250 curated vocabulary words, illustrated and organised into 10 thematic strands. Each word comes with a word map showing synonyms and word pairs. There are flexible daily and weekly lesson plans, available in both printable and digital formats.

How much prep does it require?
Very little — it's designed to be ready to use. The lesson plans are flexible enough to fit into your existing schedule, whether you use it daily or weekly.

Who made it, and is it research-backed?
It's from Mrs Wordsmith, the team behind The Narrative Journey, which delivered 50% vocabulary growth over one term. The pedagogy was developed with Dr. Susan Neuman, former U.S. Undersecretary of Education. The illustrations are by Craig Kellman, best known for hs work on movies like Madagascar and Minions.

How is it different from a history book?
It's a vocabulary curriculum, not a history book. The focus is on giving children the precise language they need to engage with America's history and civic ideas — so that when they encounter these conversations at school or at home, they can participate with confidence.

How much does it cost?
£49 in the UK and $59 in the US.