Novels are a wonderful way to get a deeper sense of a time period, and there are some excellent novels for kids and young adults set during the Civil War. Here are some of our favorites: Pink and Say, by Patricia Polacco, is a very touching book, and very sad.… Continue reading
April 2018 marks the 157th anniversary of the American Civil War. The American Civil War took place from 1861 to 1865, and was for much of the nation a turning point in history. More than 600,000 American soldiers died, more than in any other war we’ve fought, and the total… Continue reading
St. Patrick’s Day is an extremely popular holiday in the United States, in part because such a large number of Irish people immigrated to the U.S. More than 45 million Americans can claim Irish heritage, making this group the second largest in the nation. And yet the chances are good… Continue reading
Learn about Sumatra, part of Indonesia and home to one of the oldest rain forests on earth. Sumatra has so many fascinating plants and animals that it would be an excellent subject for a class Big Book on flora and fauna. Study together about the basics of the Sumatran… Continue reading
Customs related to love, courtship, weddings, and marriage vary significantly from one culture to another and throughout history. Consider this theme as a way to approach standards in social studies. Young children enjoy dramatic play involving weddings. Add a [amazon_textlink asin=’B007EA4CH6′ text=’bride costume’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’us-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’aaf41ebb-4ee6-11e8-b8da-17e608dcc280′] to your dramatic play… Continue reading
Presidents’ Day falls midway between the birthdays of Lincoln and Washington, but we like to take the day to study all the presidents of our nation. If you prefer to focus on Washington and Lincoln, these ideas will still work for your classroom. First, get clear on what exactly… Continue reading
For the celebration of Asian American Heritage Month, you might like to learn how to use chopsticks. Continue reading
A study of heroes gives opportunities for working on research skills, reading, writing, critical thinking, and more. You can work within the content areas of social studies, science, literature, math, and even physical education. It suits Veteran’s Day, heritage months, the birthdays of famous people, and character education themes. Begin… Continue reading
Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream for the children of our nation. Here are some ideas for studying this 20thcentury hero in our 21st century classrooms. Online Research All our students need to learn how to do online research effectively. Make it easier for younger students by starting… Continue reading
Christmas is celebrated in many parts of the world, and the traditions for celebrating it vary from one country and region to another. This makes it a great way to study geography, and we also have ideas for art, math, English, and science under specific countries. Basic plans: Map it! Travel… Continue reading
