Social Studies Website Links for Kids

To the right, you will see a website category with links to the following sites:

1). National Geographic for Kids:
- This is a great site for kids to view what is happening around the world. There are links to animals, stories, videos, games and people and places. This site is easy to read and follow while fun to access. Kids will really enjoy viewing the people and places link as they learn about different countries.

2). Kids.gov:
-This website is filled with tons of great links that are titled with certain historical subjects that takes to you information regarding that topic. The links may also have games within the site and offer valuable information to all sorts of subjects. There is also a link for educators where teachers can obtain resources for different subjects regarding Social Studies.

Sarah, Plain and Tall

MacLachlan, Patricia, Sarah, Plain and Tall, 1985, Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited.

Keywords:

-Late 19th Century Fiction

-Country Lifestyle

-Abandonment, Loss and Love

Grades:

-3rd-5th

Annotations:

A widower places a mail order bride advertisement to have help for his two kids, Anna and Caleb. Sarah answers that advertisement and makes the move from ocean side Maine to country side Kansas. Sarah is a key role in these children's lives as she helps them cope without their mother and allows for them to trust her as the new mother figure in their lives.

Teaching Suggestions:

-Newspaper advertisements: how they work, what to write, how much they cost, etc.

-Map reading: Locate Maine, locate Kansas, means of transportation, distance, cost of travel then and now.

-Research how times have changed: clothes, transportation, homes, buildings, etc.

-How are Mail Order Bride advertisements viewed now?

Misconceptions:
-Though this story is happy through out, it is important to discuss the problems of advertisements such as these.

-Address how kids may feel now if a parent did that to them: would they be happy or mad?

Overall, this book was a happy read that would allow for positive literary support in poetry and writing. It is important to address time differences and how this book may be different in current times. Kids could either feel happy for the characters in the book, and others may feel sad because their lives may not be as happy as the characters in the book. Address your audience correctly for this particular book and set up positive questions that the students can reflect on.

Apple Pie 4th of July

Wong, Janet S., Apple Pie 4th of July, 2002, Harcourt, INC.

Keywords:

-Chinese American Fiction

-Independence Day

-American Traditions

-Chinese Traditions

-Cultural Diversities

Annotations:

A Chinese American daughter of Chinese immigrants worries that no one will eat the Chinese food her parents are preparing on th 4th of July. She observes everyone outside eating American type foods and wonders why her parents even bothered to keep the family store open on this particular holiday. After guests walk in to eat Chinese food on the 4th of July, she realizes that Americans do eat Chinese food.

Grade Levels:

-Kindergarten -3rd Grade

Teaching Suggestions:
-Lesson on Independence Day?
-What American Immigrants do to celebrate Independence Day?
-Independence Day traditions and how they came to be?
-How does Independence Day compare to other Chinese Holidays?

Misconceptions:
-This book is particular to Chinese Americans alone, so address other cultures (including Americans) that may feel worried that no one else will notice them or like them. Address ways on how an American student can make an "outsider" feel noticed and comfortable.

Overall, this book has a positive story that relates to cultural diversity in America. It is a neat book to share with students when introducing American traditions vs. "other" traditions and how to incorporate lessons to bond cultures together. What a great, positive story.

My Name is Bilal

Mobin-Uddin, Asma. My Name is Bilal, 2005, Boyds Mills Press, Inc.

Keywords:

- Muslim Fiction

-Religious Prejudices

-Cultural Diversity

Annotations:

Bilal and his sister just moved schools, and feel like they are the only Muslims in the school. Bilal struggles to find confidence in his religion and differences as other kids bully his sister for wearing a head wrap. Bilal's teacher confides in Bilal and gives advice on how to stay true to his religion and family values.

Grade Level:

- 3rd-5th Grades

Teaching Suggestions:

-Lesson of Religious Prejudices

-Guest speaker (a Muslim, preferrably for this particular book) to share how it feels to be hurt/attacked emotionally for having different religious backrounds.

-What the purposes of Headscarfs are.

-Why is it important to respect others' beliefs?

-What are stereotypes of Muslims? And why are they disliked?

-Has the War on 911 impacted thoughts and opinions on Muslims?

Misconceptions:

-It's important to address that ALL human beings are subject to bullying and racial judgements.

-This book has white boys as the villians, so it is important to state that not only white males cause hurt and make fun of other religions/race/culture.

Overall, My Name is Bilal, is a great book to share with students because it introduces cultural diversity and allows for a multi-cultural education. It is important for students to gain knowledge about respecting classmates that may have different beliefs. Just becareful to note that everyone can be subject to judgement and all can cause judgement. This book portrays only white males as the villians, so it is important to not offend the white males in your classroom.

CRAAP Evaluations

The CRAAP evaluation system is a really neat way to analyze a resource to see if it is reliable or not. I really like the process of asking questions about accuracy, authority, purpose, current, etc. I will post my findings of this test once I figure out how to do so. I will definitely use this testing method in the future. It was amazing to see such vast differences in just the two sites on Iroquois Indians.

I am currently reading Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan. It's a really cute story so far and I am getting excited to do a presentation over this book in class in about two weeks. Stay tuned to find out my analysis on this book once I finish it.

New Healthcare?

President Obama signed a new policy that changed the health care system in our country.
As I watched this take place on TV, I automatically wondered what is being discussed about this in our schools. I sat in class almost two weeks ago to only hear negative remarks towards this new policy and towards the President. These remarks were coming from future school teachers. That's fine...they are subject to their own opinion...BUT...I wondered what they are going to tell their students about it. It's obvious that they HATE President Obama and REALLY HATE this new healthcare, so is this going to factor into the classroom? Are the students going to get the wrong impression of their current President and the policies that come with it, or is this a great opportunity for the teacher to step up and say..."What do YOU guys think about this? Let's discuss, research, collaborate, interview, analyze, explore, etc." I think that it is important to let our students explore the topics and allow them to form their own understandings and opinions on matter such as this. It would be completely unfair for students to enter a classroom where the teacher says, "Barack Obama is the worst President ever and I really HATE him and his new health care policy sucks." How would the students feel about this...obviously they would be afraid to speak up because the teacher is so persistent on his/her own opinion that he/she didn't allow the students to form their own opinions.

I had to vent about this...and I'm sorry if I offended anyone. I just couldn't believe what I was hearing from future school teachers. I say let's quit complaining and let's start making a difference. Let's step out of our biased little world and enter into our community and make a difference. Let's show our students what it means to stand up for their freedom and rights in this country. Let's allow our student's to be open to change and allow for them to form opinions for themselves. I know I'm ready to tackle this topic with openness and honesty...even I get hated on. grrr...