The National Council for the Social Studies and the Children’s Book Council are delighted to present this year’s list of exceptional books appropriate for use in the social studies classroom.
Studying literary maps like the Texas map featured in this article can launch an engaging discussion about literature as well as on the perspectives of the mapmakers.
Having students compare and analyze international constitutions teaches them about different countries and also gives them new insights into governance and their own founding document.
A focused inquiry approach, like the one on Pearl Harbor in this article, enables teachers to weave inquiry into the fabric of their courses as part of their daily instruction.
When studying the early colonization of the Caribbean, students will gain a deeper, more nuanced, understanding of the institution of slavery by examining Spanish colonial documents and comparing them with documents from the antebellum U.S. South.
Some key strategies can help provide students with a balanced picture of the founding fathers while honoring the lives, stories, and experiences of victims of slavery.
The three approaches to teaching about the legacies of nuclear development outlined in this article can advance students’ critical literacy skills as they analyze artifacts of popular culture.
This year’s Carter G. Woodson award winners include books about the Birmingham Children’s March, Japanese internment (Fred Korematsu), and recognizing the history of people of African descent.
Elementary teachers can help nurture the next generation of citizen-activists with two books that explore examples of young people engaging in civic action.