Background Briefs

Investigating History Background Briefs are designed to support educators in developing their own content knowledge prior to teaching each unit. By spring 2025, all Investigating History units from grades 3–7 will have an accompanying Background Brief.

Each Background Brief contains five parts:

• Connecting to the Unit: Identify what you need to know and be able to do to teach the unit.
• Overview Video: Learn about foundational narratives of the content from a scholar or other expert.
• Building Background Knowledge: Access helpful resources that address key ideas.
• Unit in Context: Learn about misconceptions, enduring themes, and the evolving research of social scientists.
• A Note on Language: Identify key considerations for using language related the content.

Grade 3 Background Briefs

• Native People and Places in the Northeast

• Indigenous Communities, Colonizers, and the Plymouth Colony

• The Puritans, the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Native People, and Africans

• Governing the People of Massachusetts: The American Revolution and its Impacts

• The People and Governments of Massachusetts, Past and Present

Grade 4 Background Briefs

• North American Geography

• Ancient American Civilizations

• Interactions with European Explorers

• Impacts of U.S. Expansion

• Regions of the United States

Grade 5 Background Briefs

• Early Colonization and the Growth of Colonies

• Revolution and Principles of United States Government

• The Growth of the Republic

• Slavery, the Legacy of the Civil War, and the Struggle for Civil Rights for All

Grade 6 Background Briefs

• Human Origins

• Western Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa

• Sub-Saharan Africa

• Central America, the Caribbean, and South America

Grade 7 Background Briefs

• South and Central Asia

• East Asia

• The Silk Routes

• Southeast Asia and Oceania

• Europe

Investigating History Background Briefs were developed by DESE in collaboration with Educurious , Makematic , and content-area experts from across Massachusetts. For questions about the Background Briefs, please contact investigatinghistory@mass.gov .