Six intermediate-level students enroll in an after-school American history enrichment class. Their teacher helps them to learn about important events from the time of explorers through the Civil War and Reconstruction, not only from class discussion but also by traveling back

in time to these important events. In each new epoch the students are met by a young person their own age who guides them through the experience; this enables the students to experience history firsthand, sometimes a little too close for comfort.

While the students learn many of the things commonly taught in American history and found in traditional textbooks, they also encounter facts commonly left out of traditional American history. By asking questions about these encounters, they learn important truths about America and the importance of all Americans taking an active role in their democracy. By learning a more honest account of US history, students become better empowered to work for a brighter future.