Access the Curriculum

Below, access key resources and curriculum units for Investigating History courses across Grades 3–7. Each unit page contains links to materials in various formats, including Google Drive folders and PDFs. Scroll down for information on ordering printed materials.

Key Resources

Curriculum Guidebook Background Briefs for Educators Instructional Videos Professional Development Providers

3rd Grade: Massachusetts, Home to Many Different People (New for 2026-27)

Third-grade students study northeastern North America, focusing on Indigenous cultures, colonization, and Massachusetts's development. They also explore the American Revolution, civic engagement, and local government.

Units 3–5 will be published in Summer and Early Fall 2026.

Unit 1 Indigenous Peoples of the Northeast Unit 2 Indigenous Communities, European Colonizers, and the Plymouth Colony

4th Grade: North American Geography, History, and Peoples (New for 2026-27)

Fourth-grade students study the physical and human geography of North America while building map and geographic reasoning skills. They explore Indigenous societies and colonization, then examine U.S. expansion and its impacts before analyzing regions as geographers.

Units 3–5 will be published in Summer and Early Fall 2026.

Unit 1 North American Geography Unit 2 Indigenous Societies of North America

5th Grade: United States History to the Civil War and the Modern Civil Rights Movement (Revised 2026-27)

Fifth-grade students study North American history from precolonial times through the Civil War, Reconstruction, and 20th-century civil rights movements. They examine how different groups of people shaped the United States while exploring its founding, expansion, and ongoing pursuit of "a more perfect Union".

Note: The Grade 5 course has been revised with a focus on vertical alignment and student supports. Revised units 3 and 4 will be published in Summer and Early Fall 2026. To access legacy curriculum materials (2024 edition), complete a request form .

Unit 1 Before and Beyond the Colonies Unit 2 The American Revolution and Principles of United States Government

6th Grade: World Geography and Ancient Civilizations I (Revised 2025-26)

Sixth-grade students study early human history and the development of societies in regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. They explore how geography shapes ways of life while recognizing the diversity and ingenuity of human societies.

New for 2026-27: Unit 2 of the Grade 6 course now includes a previously unreleased lesson cluster on the early history of Judaism, Christianity and Islam in alignment with Topics 6.T3e and 6.T3f of the History/Social Science Framework.

Unit 1 Human Origins Unit 2 The Middle East and North Africa Unit 3 Sub-Saharan Africa Unit 4 The Americas

7th Grade: World Geography and Ancient Civilizations II (Revised 2025-26)

Seventh-grade students study ancient history and modern geography across Asia, Oceania, and Europe. They examine how religion, leadership, values, and governments have shaped societies and civic life.

Unit 1 South and Central Asia Unit 2 East Asia Unit 3 The Silk Routes Unit 4 Southeast Asia and Oceania Unit 5 Europe

What's New for Investigating History in SY2026-27

  • New Grades 3–4 Courses: Grades 3 and 4 materials will be fully published for SY2026-27! The first units are available above. These materials were previously available in pilot form. See a summary of revisions to our pilot materials .
  • Revised Grade 5 Course: Revised Grade 5 units featuring updated unit structure, routines, and supports will be available for SY2026-27. Units 1 and 2 are now available above. See a summary of new features . “Legacy” materials will continue to be available upon request .
  • Unit 6.2 Final Cluster: For SY2026-27, the final lesson cluster of Unit 6.2 on Abrahamic religions is now available in fully published form. To accommodate additional revision time, this cluster was not previously released along with the rest of the Grade 6 course in 2025-26.

Ordering Printed Materials

If you would prefer professionally printed versions of the Investigating History materials such as bound teachers' guides and student workbooks or durable, color-printed classroom resources, these orders can be fulfilled by Commonwealth Print and Mail Services (CPMS) and TigerPress/dcc. Both vendors offer a variety of ordering and pricing options and educators are encouraged to explore each print partner to determine the best fit for their needs. You can access the CPMS order form (select "register for an account" and follow these instructions ) or TigerPress order form directly. For support, please reach out directly to Matt Brogna at CPMS or Jamie O'Connell at Tiger Press.

Have Feedback on the Curriculum?

We are continuously improving our curriculum materials and appreciate your feedback! Please submit all feedback using this form: Investigating History Curriculum Feedback .

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