The American Revolution Learning Experience
Making History Meaningful for Young Learners
PBS LearningMedia partnered with d’Vinci Interactive to create an immersive digital learning experience for its Ken Burns in the Classroom collection, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Designed for students in grades 3–5, the interactive helps young learners explore the Revolution through the experiences of Betsy Ambler, a young girl who lived through the era.
The Solution: Interactive Storytelling and Learning Design
d’Vinci transformed Betsy’s story into an engaging, age-appropriate learning experience built around a series of personal letters. Guided by Betsy’s voice, read by actor Maya Hawke, students explore historical events through film clips, authentic sound design, historical imagery, and interactive elements that bring the Revolutionary era to life.
d’Vinci designed the experience to help students connect personally with history. By seeing the Revolution through the eyes of someone closer to their own age, learners are encouraged to build empathy, think critically about different perspectives, and explore ideas of freedom, opportunity, and democracy.
The interactive is part of PBS LearningMedia’s collection of more than 35 free classroom resources supporting THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, the six-part documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. The experience launched in February 2026 as educators nationwide prepared to explore the nation’s founding in the lead-up to the United States’ 250th anniversary.
View "The Experiences of a Young Girl During the American Revolution: Betsy Ambler"
