By Her Excellency Jeanne Shaheen Governor of the State of New Hampshire

In Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck's epic novel of the GReat Depression, one of his characters raises the question, "But how will we know if it's us without our past?"

Indeed, our cumulative and shared past is the foundation for the present and future. History provides the context and the continuity so essential to our lives today.

I am vitally interested in our state's rich history and in our long-held traditions of both individualism and community.  As Governor of New Hampshire, I know that the fundamental knowledge of our past is crucial to good citizenship and to the quality of the decisions we make every day. We must ensure that all our children are grounded in a basic understanding of community, state, nation, and world -- and that they appreciate how the New Hampshire we know today has come to be. To achieve that requires skilled and dedicated teachers supported by a well-concieved educational curriculum that meets real needs.

Thanks to the dedication of a private organization, the New Hampshire Historical Society, and the creative efforts of scores of educators across the state, this K-6 New Hampshire history curriculum is a direct response to critical needs identified by our teachers. This curriculum is a wonderful new resource that fills an existing void.  I hope that every elementary school social studies teacher will find it helpful in strengthening our appreciation of New Hampshire's rich heritage.
 

Jeanne Shaheen
Governor

IntroductionQuestionsOverviewsPeopleLesson PlansAppendixesAcknowledgementsIntroductions  What Does this Book Do?Glossary of TermsQuick Reference ChartFocus QuestionsSummary List of QuestionsFocus Questions and NH FrameworksTime Periods Covered by 10 Eras