Land of the Pilgrims' Pride

Land of the Pilgrims' Pride

By Callista Gingrich 

Genre: Realistic  fiction

Grade: Kindergarten to second

Click Here!

About The Author

Born in 1966, Gringrich is an artist and author, among many other things. Owning a film company, Gringrich Productions, she has done several documentaries. After reading her biography it is easy to see that she is an outstanding woman with many talents and a personality to match. She adores music, as she is was and is active in choir and playing instruments. Click on the link about to read more!

About The Book

Ellis is young elephant who wants to explore the history of how America began. As Ellis goes on his journey he visits the 13 original colonies and learns something special about each one. Packed with great information a reader can learn about our flag, the Pilgrims journey to America on the May Flower, and of course where it all started and the importance of each colony. I found the book to be a great read especially for younger readers. The character, Ellis, is appealing to young students and the illustrations are bright and inviting. 

Lesson

Purpose: Students will understand America's beginning history and how the colonies shaped our country. ( Can be used for Thanksgiving)

Pre-assessment: Informal questions on how the student think American started? Who were the people that arrived and what did they do?

Lesson: Students will be looking at an original map of America with the 13 colonies. They will label the map then color it in. Once done they will then have a coordination worksheet in which they write 2 facts about each colony. This can be done with partners. Once done the class will come together, and using cut outs of each colony a teacher will write facts within each colony. This can then be displayed in the classroom for a writing activity. 

Post assessment: Give student a test on the 13 colonies. Have them label a map, for higher grades allow facts to be given and or basic information such as where the pilgrims first settled. 

The Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials

By Matt Doeden

Genre: non-fiction

Grade: third to fifth

Click Here!

About The Author

With 138 published books, Doeden is a successful author. Writing non-fiction books, he is now a freelance writer, and was an editor on the Capstone Press for 7 years. Doeden admits that his work is all over the place, writing about genetics, geography, sports, cars, nutrtion, and more, click link above for more. He has also focused on emergent readers, and ESL students, and appears to be a man of many talents. 

About The Book

This a a you Choose Book, meaning that is an interactive history book for young readers. It has 3 story paths, 39 choices and 13 endings! Students can decide to be three different characters: 1. They can can defend themselves against charges of witch craft 2. Try keeping a family together after their mother has been put on trial 3. Or they can accuse someone of witch craft. Based in a colony out of Massachusetts in 1692 readers can get a real sense of the time period. Ever story path is real person trials and tribulations during the Salem Witch Trials.  I found the book to be a great alternative to "typical" chapter books, as it gives it reader power and engages them in the reading process. 

Lesson

purpose: To understand the Salem Witch Trials by actively taking part in a trial

Pre-assessment: Having a formal discussion of the Salem Witch Trials, attached to a corresponding worksheet looking at when, how, and why.

Lesson: Students will read the text ( a certain amount of them should read each path way). Then go over important factual information during the Salem Witch Trials. Once done students will put on their on trial. They will have a judge, spectators or family, the accusing party, and the individual(s) put on trial. The students story paths will effect what they do in the trial as to help with background knowledge. When this is done students will then write a paper on the reading and the trial comparing and contrasting the two and answering how they felt in the trail (putting themselves in their characters shoes). 

Post assessment: Taking student notes on the trial, looking at the paper, and giving a test. 

The U.S Constitution and You

The U.S Constitution and You

By Syl Sobel, J.D.

Genre: Non-fiction

Grades: third to fifth

About The Author

Syl Sobel works for the Federal Judicial Center in Washington, D.C, where he is the Director of Publications & Media. From the research that I have done most of written works are limited to US Government. Some of his other works include, How the U.S Government Works, Presidential elections and Other Cool Facts, and The Bill of Right: Protecting Our Freedom Then and Now. 

Not much information but click and see, Click Here

About The Book

This is a great alternative to a text book! It simplifies the U.S Constitution! The different chapters include: The rules for the government, Three branches of Government, Checks and Balances, The People's Powers, and more! It has very few illustrations, but its simple illustrations are helpful and effective.  All of our students have to be educated about our government and this book does a great job of that. 

Lesson

Purpose: To understand the U.S Constitution and the branches of the government.

Pre-assessment: An informal questioning about their knowledge of the constitution and government. 

Lesson: Day 1- Chapters 1, 2 & 3

               Day 2- Chapters 4 & 5

               Day 3- Chapter 6,7 & 8

               Day 4- Chapter 8 and an activity

Students will have worksheets that coordinate with the reading alone with discussions. On the last day the students will create a class constitution. 

Post assessment: Use discussions about the readings, along with worksheets, and U.S Constitution.