Skip to main content

Welcome to New Hampshire Social Studies

Help your students discover how special New Hampshire is, introduce them to social studies skills that will lay the foundation for future learning, and inspire them with a lifelong love of the Granite State!

“Moose on the Loose” is an elementary social studies curriculum for the State of New Hampshire. Created by the New Hampshire Historical Society, it explores the Granite State’s history, economics, geography, and civic life, introducing elementary students to the state’s rich cultural heritage. The site offers lots of material for kids in the upper elementary grades (grades 3-6), much of which is adaptable even for students in older grades. "Moose on the Loose" provides many ways for kids to connect what they learn about the past to current, statewide issues. It also provides a foundation for lifelong learning about New Hampshire, America, and the democratic traditions that unite us all. So dive in and find out more about the state we all love!

Essential Questions

These essential questions guide and inspire the study of the Granite State—its history, its culture, its economy, its way of life. Keep the questions in mind as you discover more about New Hampshire. How would you answer these questions? And what other questions would you ask as you explore the heritage of the Granite State?
  • 1
    How has New Hampshire come to be the way it is?
  • 2
    How has New Hampshire been shaped by many voices?
  • 3
    How have New Hampshire’s people shaped its government?
  • 4
    How has New Hampshire impacted the nation?

Unit Plans

Each of the 18 units in "Moose on the Loose" comes with a unit plan that offers educators more detailed knowledge and instructional guidance. Unit plans contain educator overviews for each topic, unit vocabulary lists, additional resources for students and educators, and, most importantly, step-by-step lesson plans with worksheets and resources, all tied to national and state standards.

Helpful Resources For Educators

MEDIA LIBRARY

All the resources in the "Moose on the Loose" in one searchable location.

PRIMARY SOURCE SETS

Support the development of essential historical thinking skills and connect students directly to history.

INQUIRY DESIGN MATERIALS

Each IDM poses a compelling question from New Hampshire history that continues to impact the world around us.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The New Hampshire Historical Society offers several different types of instructional support for educators, all provided free of charge.

NH GIANT TRAVELING MAP

Find out more about this free resource, developed by National Geographic, to teach kids about state geography.

CURRICULUM PATHS

Curated pathways based on time, ideas, and what every fourth grader should know. Locate material quickly to introduce students to state social studies.

EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS

"Moose on the Loose" content and skill standards, as well as state and national ELA, social studies, math, and science standards, with easy-to-use charts.