America: The Story of Us

Many documentary series on U.S. history either feel dry or gloss over complexity in favor of spectacle. America: The Story of Us tries to thread the needle with high‑energy reenactments, visuals, and commentary that walk through major eras from colonization onward. Produced for the History channel, it was built to make big events and innovations feel immediate and cinematic. We appreciate it as a self‑paced supplement for middle and high schoolers when paired with note‑taking and discussion. It’s ideal for families wanting a broad overview that can anchor further reading or primary source work. The tone can veer into dramatic and occasionally oversimplified, so we wouldn’t use it as the only history source, but it’s engaging. Pro tip: have students keep a timeline while watching and mark where they want to “zoom in” later with books or documentaries from other perspectives.