Welcome to the "Great Stuff for Social Studies" LibGuide!
In this guide I have listed excellent print, video, and digital resources for the 5th-grade Social Studies curriculum. All resources are available through the Osceola school district libraries, the public library system, or online.
The LibGuide is organized by topic; so far, the pages I have are Exploration of the Americas, Colonial Life, Revolution, Founding Fathers and Mothers, Founding Documents, and Immigration. Resources relating to the Constitutional Convention are on the Founding Documents page, resources on the Lewis & Clark expedition are on the Exploration page. Resources on the French & Indian War and the Salem Witch Trials are on the Colonial Life page.
Each topic is organized by location of the resource -- Osceola school libraries, public libraries, and internet. At the bottom of each page, I have placed links to the schools' Destiny catalog and to the public library system catalog, so you can immediately search and request resources as you find them.
The book descriptions are excerpts from School Library Journal or Horn Book reviews. At this time, most resources are non-fiction.
Enjoy browsing!
Some authors have distinguished themselves as excellent writers of history for the elementary/middle grade set. Here are a few to watch for:
Russell Freedman: Known for Immigrant Kids, Freedman is a great writer of non-fiction for elementary/middle grade students. Adults can learn from him too! See his Amazon page for his works: http://www.amazon.com/Russell-Freedman/e/B001ILIEB2
Cheryl Harness: Her website describes her as a "writer for young time travelers." Her casual writing style is readable and engaging, and her illustrations are lively and stories in themselves. Click here for her web page: http://www.cherylharness.com
Jim Murphy: American author of more than 35 nonfiction and fiction books for children, young adults, and general audiences, including more than 30 about American history.
Judith St. George: When St.George writes a book, enthusiasm for her subject leads her to wear stout boots. She has traveled through the Great Plains and along the Lewis and Clark Trail, climbed to the top of Mt. Rushmore, and boarded a ship in the Panama Canal by climbing a thirty foot rope ladder. "People always comment on how hard the research must be, but I tell them that it's the research that's fun. I want to bring the people I write about alive for my readers the way they come alive for me, and experiencing where and how they lived helps me do that." Her site: http://www.judithstgeorge.com/index.htm
Kenneth C. Davis: The author of the Don't Know Much About . . . history series also has a lively blog presence, and a page where students can e-mail him questions directly. He's particularly knowledgeable about the American Presidents. Visit his site: http://dontknowmuch.com
