Elementary school teachers have so many demands being placed upon them these days, that sometimes they may not have time to teach an entire subject every week, or even every month. The one subject that often seems to be pushed to the side is social studies. It takes a lot of time and energy to effectively teach this subject, and more than just an outdated textbook as a resource. If there is a subject you'd like to focus on with your children, relating to the school curriculum, I suggest that you make it history.
The best educators find a way to make history come alive for students. They use a variety of methods, such as acting, hands-on activities, evaluation of primary source documents (a topic for a future post), and the integration of other subjects into their lessons. There is a plethora of high quality children's literature available that simplifies this process for teachers. Many picture books combine subjects, like art, reading, social studies, math, and even science into one invaluable resource. This saves time for teachers, and the variety often appeals to many different types of students. There are so many wonderful books available, even for the youngest of students, that make history real and relevant to their lives. Great literature should be the starting point for any topic relating to social studies.
Parents can and should supplement this subject with picture books. Certain students have an interest in a specific time in history, so you'll need to seek out related books. Others may have an interest that is still to be discovered. That's where your public library comes in. These days, you can search for resources right from the comfort of your own home. If you really don't know what might spark interest, however, a trip to the library with your child might do the trick. If there's no interest, let your child guide you to books he or she likes, even if they are not related to history. Today, I'd like to recommend to you three nonfiction books, which are mainly for students in grades 3 through 8. They all relate to American history.
The first one can be read to a curious second grader or an interested sixth grader. It's called The American Story: 100 True Tales from American History,
and Jennifer Armstrong is the author. I like this picture book because it consists of short stories arranged in chronological order, which can be read over a period of days, weeks, or months. It's quite a large book, and the author manages to summarize moments in time in a way that younger readers will appreciate. It's not heavy on the detail, and does not cover every aspect of American history, but it can inspire interest in the subject in small segments. Starting in the year 1565, and going through 2000, a nice sampling even includes some aspects of pop culture, like Pac Man Fever. This book is a great all-in-one resource for parents who want to spend a little bit of time each day reading and discussing history.
This next book, The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence, by Judith St. George, will
appeal mainly to students in grades 4 through 8. This book is beautifully illustrated, and it provides a very thorough, yet lighthearted, explanation of the history of this important document. Adults will find themselves learning from this book too! From my experience, many students have a difficult time remembering the differences between documents like the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, so this book will help them to avoid mixing these documents up. This book would be a nice complement to my next book, which goes into much detail about the American Revolution.
If your child is learning about the American Revolution in school, George vs. George: The American Revolution as seen from Both Sides, by Rosalyn Schanzer, is a must read. Students are often asked to make comparisons between people, places, and things using graphic organizers like Venn diagrams, but this book really makes them think about what was going through the minds of King George and George Washington during the American Revolution.This book is a complete package for educators and parents alike. The illustrations, layout, and attention to detail in this book are astounding. This book is a rare gem for tweens, teens, and adults.
Students have a tendency not to seek out nonfiction books unless they are prompted to do so by parents or educators. While we can't force them to read nonfiction, we can make it more appealing by presenting them with the very best choices. Like anything else in life, there are some options that stand apart from the rest. Books can open new doors for our children if we find the right ones. Exercise your right to make informed choices. But, most of all, keep reading!
Would you like to recommend other great books relating to American history? Comments and suggestions are always welcome here.
