History Through Story: An American Girl Inspired History Curriculum

Kaya and the Nez Perce

A Window Into 18th Century Native America

What Is History Through Story?

History Through Story is a literature-based history curriculum built around the beloved American Girl historical characters. Each unit uses one character’s story as a springboard to explore the real people, places, and events of that time period with care, depth, and age-appropriate activities.

This first unit is centered on Kaya, a Nez Perce girl who lived in the Pacific Northwest in 1764. Through Kaya’s story, students will explore 18th-century Indigenous history, the seasonal rhythms of the land, family life, craftsmanship, oral storytelling, cultural survival, and more.

What’s Included:

  • A 6-week unit designed for ages 8–13

  • Flexible weekly lesson plans (do what works for you!)

  • Suggested videos, books, and parent notes for respectful, informed teaching

  • Mapwork, timelines, hand, and cultural exploration

  • Writing and vocabulary activities using evidence-based strategies

  • Hands-on activities: build a longhouse model, make parfleches, try survival skills, explore identity through art

  • A printable student workbook with vocabulary organizers, writing outlines, and extension pages

Frequently Asked Questions

  • This unit is designed for children ages 8-13. I have provided a wide range of recommended reading, videos, and online resources. Some are a better fit for younger students, while others work best with older students.

  • You will need access to the complete Kaya book series (books 1-6, not the new abridged series). You can often find these at your library and second-hand from online book retailers. The guide includes specific details about book versions and resources.

  • The student workbook is a printable companion with graphic organizers for vocabulary, two levels of writing activities following the strategies of The Writing Revolution, and activity templates.

  • This is designed as a 6-week unit. Each week centers around one book of the Kaya series with daily lesson plans. The length of each day’s lesson is dependent on which activities you do and if you choose to incorporate content-area writing and notebooking. The guide is flexible — choose the parts that work for you and your routines!

Want a peek inside the first unit of History Through Story?

Download a sample of Kaya and the Nez Perce here.