My Story Begins Standards Alignment (C3 Framework & California)

My Story Begins is a complete TK–Kindergarten social studies course designed to introduce young learners to themselves, their families, communities, safety, geography, citizenship, and the concepts of time and place through stories and hands-on activities.

The course is intentionally designed to support both the C3 (College, Career & Civic Life) Framework and California's early learning and Kindergarten History–Social Science Standards, giving homeschool families and charter schools a clear standards-based foundation while keeping learning developmentally appropriate for young children.

C3 Framework Alignment (Grades K–2)

Please note: The C3 (College, Career & Civic Life) Framework is written in grade bands (K–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12), rather than as a separate set of standards for Transitional Kindergarten.

My Story Begins introduces children to many of the foundational skills and concepts they will continue developing throughout the K–2 grade band.

What C3 Areas Does This Course Cover?

Across the five units (All About Me; Being a Good Friend & Citizen; Keeping Me Safe; Where I Live; and Finding My Place in Time & Space), students practice:

Inquiry Skills (Dimensions 1 & 4) – Asking and answering simple questions, observing the world around them, discussing stories and experiences, sorting and comparing information, and communicating what they have learned through drawings, crafts, games, and other hands-on activities.
History (D2.His, K–2) – Developing an early understanding of past, present, and future; sequencing events; comparing “then and now”; and recognizing that people, families, and communities have stories that take place over time.
Geography (D2.Geo, K–2) – Exploring where they live, learning about homes and communities, identifying basic landforms, using position and direction words, and beginning to understand maps and how they represent real places.
Civics (D2.Civ, K–2) – Learning what it means to be a good friend and citizen, understanding why rules and laws exist, identifying responsible choices, and recognizing the roles of community and safety professionals.
Economics & Everyday Life (D2.Eco, K–2) – Exploring jobs and the different types of work people do, identifying tools and workplaces associated with different occupations, and recognizing the ways people contribute to families and communities.
Identity, Family & Community – Exploring personal identity, individual differences, family roles and heritage, feelings, independence, and the ways children are connected to their families and communities.

To see exactly which C3 indicators are addressed in each unit, you can view or download our detailed chart:

C3 Framework Alignment PDF for My Story Begins:

Download the C3 Alignment PDF for My Story Begins Here

California Standards Alignment (TK–Kindergarten)

My Story Begins was created specifically for young learners in Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten. The five units introduce social studies through developmentally appropriate topics children can connect to their own lives: identity, family, friendship, citizenship, safety, community, geography, time, and place.

Each unit in the course identifies the California standards it supports, making it easier for homeschool families and charter schools to document standards coverage.

Transitional Kindergarten Alignment

At the TK level, My Story Begins builds foundational social studies skills through play, discussion, stories, movement, crafts, and hands-on activities.

Across the course, students explore:

Self & Identity – Unit 1, “All About Me,” helps children explore who they are, what makes them unique, their feelings, growing independence, family roles, family heritage, and the different jobs people perform.

Friendship & Citizenship – Unit 2, “Being a Good Friend & Citizen,” introduces friendship, responsibility, good citizenship, appropriate ways to communicate with others, tattling versus telling, perseverance, and caring for shared spaces.

Community & Safety – Unit 3, “Keeping Me Safe,” helps children identify trusted adults and community safety professionals, learn when to call 911, practice important personal information such as their phone number, and understand that rules and laws help keep people safe.

Where We Live – Unit 4, “Where I Live,” introduces children to their city, state, country, and continent; different types of homes; their home address; American symbols; national holidays; and basic physical geography and landforms.

Time & Space – Unit 5, “Finding My Place in Time & Space,” develops early spatial and chronological thinking through position words, maps, calendars, days of the week, sequencing, comparisons of past and present, and imagining the future.

Kindergarten History–Social Science Standards Alignment

My Story Begins also supports California's Kindergarten History–Social Science Standards across its five units.

K.1 – Being a Good Citizen

Units 2 and 4 introduce children to good citizenship, responsibility, national symbols, and the importance of treating others and their community with care. Students practice recognizing responsible behavior and learn about the American flag and other shared symbols and traditions.

K.2 – National and State Symbols

Unit 4 (“Where I Live”) introduces important American symbols and traditions, including the American flag, national holidays, and notable American symbols and heroes.

K.3 – Jobs & Community

Units 1 and 3 help students recognize the different types of work people do in their families and communities. Children explore occupations, tools, workplaces, and community safety professionals and begin to understand how different jobs contribute to community life.

K.4 – Geography & Our Community

Units 3, 4, and 5 develop children's understanding of location and place. Students learn where they live, practice their address and phone number, explore different types of homes and landforms, use positional vocabulary, and create and interpret simple maps.

K.5 – Time & Chronology

Unit 5 (“Finding My Place in Time & Space”) introduces children to chronological thinking through calendars, days of the week, sequencing activities, and comparisons between “then” and “now.” Students begin to recognize that events happen in order and that life changes over time.

K.6 – Understanding the Past

Units 1, 4, and 5 help children connect their own lives and communities to the concepts of past, present, and future. Through family heritage, American symbols and traditions, sequencing, “then and now” comparisons, and a future-focused activity, children begin developing the historical thinking skills they will build upon in later grades.

To see exactly which California Social Studies Standards are addressed in each unit, you can view or download our detailed chart:

California Standards Alignment PDF for My Story Begins:

Download the California Standards Alignment PDF for My Story Begins Here

If you have specific questions about state standards outside of California or need documentation for a charter school, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to help you map this course to your requirements.