The teaching guides developed for Elementary schools were created to support 5th grade American history content standards and learning frameworks. They present lesson ideas for each chapter and also groups of chapters called Parts. Part activities help to set context for reading and present overview concepts for the chapters, as well as introduce timeline and map concepts to help frame understanding. Part summaries include project and activity ideas. Chapter lessons are presented in an Ask-Discuss-Write format and focus heavily on nonfiction literacy skill and reading comprehension concepts. In addition, each Chapter lesson includes additional activities to reinforce reading skills, vocabulary retention and differentiated instruction. Reproducible assessments, worksheets graphic organizers and rubrics are found at back.

Joy Hakim, a former teacher, editor, and writer won the prestigious James Michener Prize for her series, A History of US, which has sold over 4 million copies nationwide. A graduate of Smith College and Goucher College she spent years teaching students from elementary school up to the college level. She also served as an Associate Editor at Norfolk's Virginian-Pilot, and was an Assistant Editor at McGraw-Hill's World News..