Discover ways to bring America's history to life through PBS KIDS, PBS LearningMedia and meaningful family experiences that connect the nation's past with your own family story.
Independence Day may have passed and many of the official America250 celebrations may be over, but your family’s opportunity to discover America’s story together is just beginning.
Whether you’re planning one more summer road trip, exploring your hometown or simply enjoying the slower pace of summer at home, this milestone anniversary is the perfect invitation to turn everyday moments into meaningful conversations. History doesn’t have to stay in textbooks and classrooms – it can come alive through stories, questions, shared discoveries and even your own family traditions.
As your children learn about the people and events that shaped our nation, they’re also building something just as important: your family’s history. The conversations you have, the places you visit and the memories you make together become part of the story your children will carry with them for years to come.
Here are a few ways to explore America’s story — and build your own family’s story — together.
Step into the Revolutionary Era
This year marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which makes it a wonderful time to explore the people, ideas and events that shaped our nation’s beginning.
PBS LearningMedia’s The American Revolution collection offers engaging videos and educational resources for upper elementary and middle school students that bring this pivotal time in history to life. Families can explore the local and regional perspectives to see how the ideals of the Revolutionary era continue to influence communities today.
As you learn together, invite your child into the conversation instead of simply sharing facts. Questions like these can spark thoughtful discussion:
- Why did some people believe independence was worth fighting for?
- What do you think everyday life was like for kids during the Revolutionary era?
- Which freedoms or responsibilities do you think are most important today?
- If someone was telling the story of your family or community 250 years from now, what do you hope they would remember?
Explore the U.S.A. with PBS KIDS
For younger learners, history often begins close to home. Before they understand broader history, they learn about and from the neighborhoods, communities, traditions and people around them.
PBS KIDS offers fun, age-appropriate programs that introduce children to places and people across the country while encouraging curiosity, kindness and community involvement.
- City Island, U.S.A. invites children to explore neighborhoods and discover what makes communities unique.
- America's Awesome Kids introduces inspiring young people who are making a difference through creativity, leadership and service.
- The Across America collection celebrates the people, traditions and stories that make communities special while encouraging children to make a positive impact where they live.
Extend the learning beyond the screen by reading books together, trying foods from different regions or talking about your own family traditions.
Ask questions like:
- What makes our town or neighborhood special?
- What traditions are important in our family?
- How is our community similar to – or different from – the places we are learning about?
- What memories have we made together that might become important stories in our family history someday?
Discover the People and Ideas That Shaped the United States
Every era of American history offers opportunities to understand the people, places and ideas that continue to influence our lives today.
PBS LearningMedia features collections for every chapter of U.S. history. Here are a few great places to begin:
- Journey through the early days of the Republic, from westward expansion to the women’s rights movement.
- Meet lesser-known historical figures from the Civil War and Reconstruction Eras whose stories deserve to be remembered.
- Explore how maps can change the way we understand history.
- Discover why civic engagement mattered in in the past — and still matters today.
As you explore, encourage the children in your life to make connections between history and their own lives. Invite grandparents, other relatives and friends to share stories from their childhoods, compare experiences from different generations or start recording family memories in a journal, scrapbook or in short videos you can make together.
Whether your family is traveling across the country or staying close to home, every question, conversation and shared discovery is an opportunity to learn together.
America250 is more than a celebration of our nation’s past – it’s an invitation to reflect on stories that shape us today. As you explore America's history together, you can help your child build curiosity, critical thinking skills and appreciation for the many stories that shape our nation and create memories that become a part of your family’s legacy. Our worth as a nation is not only in where we have been, but also in the history we are making today.
And that’s a story worth building together.