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The Usborne Encyclopedia of World History by Jane Bingham, Fiona Chandler and Sam Taplin
Although targeted to middle school audience, this book could work well as a reference for 9th and 10th grade students who may have limited previous experience with World History. It has very comprehensive, visually appealing overviews of a great number of major events in global history. There are a number of easy to use timelines which can help students to become familiar with interpreting data in that format. The text also has an accompanying website with great links to online resources which could help students who may be struggling with their understanding of the world history events and timelines.
Although targeted to middle school audience, this book could work well as a reference for 9th and 10th grade students who may have limited previous experience with World History. It has very comprehensive, visually appealing overviews of a great number of major events in global history. There are a number of easy to use timelines which can help students to become familiar with interpreting data in that format. The text also has an accompanying website with great links to online resources which could help students who may be struggling with their understanding of the world history events and timelines.
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Here is Where: Discovering America's Great Forgotten History by Andrew Carroll
Students often express dissatisfaction at the dry, "boring" nature of the reading that they do in Social Studies classrooms. They also have trouble making significance out of places and people that feel very far away to them. This book helps to bridge that gap and help students to see history in a unique and hands-on kind of way. The author visits spots around the country that are relatively unknown but at which events with far-reaching impact have occurred. It is written in a tone that is both fun and quick to follow. It is a great way to help students see the significance of even small historical events.
Students often express dissatisfaction at the dry, "boring" nature of the reading that they do in Social Studies classrooms. They also have trouble making significance out of places and people that feel very far away to them. This book helps to bridge that gap and help students to see history in a unique and hands-on kind of way. The author visits spots around the country that are relatively unknown but at which events with far-reaching impact have occurred. It is written in a tone that is both fun and quick to follow. It is a great way to help students see the significance of even small historical events.
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Letters of a Nation by Andrew Carroll
Working with primary source documents is an important skill in most Social Studies classrooms. However, most textbooks only deal with small pieces of those documents outside of major ones such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, etc. "Letters of a Nation" gives students a chance to experience primary source documents in the form of personal letters. It is a great opportunity for them to analyze tone, intent, audience and other elements in the context of historical events that they are studying. It can also be a good springboard for creating their own letters and responses in "what if" scenarios placing the students in those same historical contexts.
Working with primary source documents is an important skill in most Social Studies classrooms. However, most textbooks only deal with small pieces of those documents outside of major ones such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, etc. "Letters of a Nation" gives students a chance to experience primary source documents in the form of personal letters. It is a great opportunity for them to analyze tone, intent, audience and other elements in the context of historical events that they are studying. It can also be a good springboard for creating their own letters and responses in "what if" scenarios placing the students in those same historical contexts.
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Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond
This book is best used in an elective sociology or world history course where there is time in the curriculum for students to read the entire book and apply it in the context of current events. It is an interesting summary of both societies that have risen and fallen in our world as well as postulating theories about why particular societies have prevailed over major obstacles. In addition to examination of sociological factors about these societies, the author considers environmental and economic factors as well. This variety of perspectives opens up opportunities for students to apply historical precedent to current world events and make their own predictions about what might occur in the future.
This book is best used in an elective sociology or world history course where there is time in the curriculum for students to read the entire book and apply it in the context of current events. It is an interesting summary of both societies that have risen and fallen in our world as well as postulating theories about why particular societies have prevailed over major obstacles. In addition to examination of sociological factors about these societies, the author considers environmental and economic factors as well. This variety of perspectives opens up opportunities for students to apply historical precedent to current world events and make their own predictions about what might occur in the future.
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Civilization: The West and the Rest by Niall Ferguson
This is an interesting supplement to a high school world history course because it outlines the rise of western civilization and its historical world dominance. However, it also highlights the ways in which other cultures have now used the example of countries such at the United States to create societies that are now surpassing the achievements of the traditionally strong western cultures. It would probably best be suited near the end of a course or as part of an elective course once students have strong understanding of the global context that led to the development of modern societies.
This is an interesting supplement to a high school world history course because it outlines the rise of western civilization and its historical world dominance. However, it also highlights the ways in which other cultures have now used the example of countries such at the United States to create societies that are now surpassing the achievements of the traditionally strong western cultures. It would probably best be suited near the end of a course or as part of an elective course once students have strong understanding of the global context that led to the development of modern societies.
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An Ethical Compass: Coming of Age in the 21st Century by Thomas Friedman and Elie Wiesel
This a fascinating text that can easily provide great supplemental material for sociology, ethics or social justice courses. It is a compilation of essays written by college students about ethical issues that have personal significance for them. The text's individual essays could easily be used as starting points for high school students to understand a wide variety of ethics issues in the voice of students not much older than themselves. Not only could the essays serve as the basis for class discussion, but response/representing activities could be generated by students through their own essays, poems, spoken word or other genres.
This a fascinating text that can easily provide great supplemental material for sociology, ethics or social justice courses. It is a compilation of essays written by college students about ethical issues that have personal significance for them. The text's individual essays could easily be used as starting points for high school students to understand a wide variety of ethics issues in the voice of students not much older than themselves. Not only could the essays serve as the basis for class discussion, but response/representing activities could be generated by students through their own essays, poems, spoken word or other genres.
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Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner
The choice of this text in classroom use should be made with very deliberate purpose in the accompanying lesson plans as some of the themes presented require students that can handle them maturely. However, it is placed in this bibliography because it does present some unique opportunities to overlap several areas of disciplinary literacy in one unit. In a very unconventional way, the book explores how economic principles have directly impacted the way that we have made decisions in our society. It could be used easily in economics, psychology or sociology electives using individual segments. The book offers a good chance to apply math literacy to social studies context in the setting of scenarios that are current and interesting to many students.
The choice of this text in classroom use should be made with very deliberate purpose in the accompanying lesson plans as some of the themes presented require students that can handle them maturely. However, it is placed in this bibliography because it does present some unique opportunities to overlap several areas of disciplinary literacy in one unit. In a very unconventional way, the book explores how economic principles have directly impacted the way that we have made decisions in our society. It could be used easily in economics, psychology or sociology electives using individual segments. The book offers a good chance to apply math literacy to social studies context in the setting of scenarios that are current and interesting to many students.
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Where they Stand: The American Presidents in the Eyes of Voters and Historians by Robert Merry
Politics is often a current events topic that students have interest in, but are not always equipped to debate and understand completely. Whether used to supplement understanding of the election process, or as a source for conversation in a Political Science elective, this book offers an interesting debate on presidential politics specifically. The author not only gives historical context, but gives readers an opportunity to understand the sentiments of voters in the times of each of the presidencies highlighted. The book would probably not be used in entirety in most classroom settings, but specific excerpts would be a great supplement to class discussion.
Politics is often a current events topic that students have interest in, but are not always equipped to debate and understand completely. Whether used to supplement understanding of the election process, or as a source for conversation in a Political Science elective, this book offers an interesting debate on presidential politics specifically. The author not only gives historical context, but gives readers an opportunity to understand the sentiments of voters in the times of each of the presidencies highlighted. The book would probably not be used in entirety in most classroom settings, but specific excerpts would be a great supplement to class discussion.
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
This novel has a great deal of historical relevance and potential for interesting cross-curricular planning units. It could be helpful to teach students how to read from the perspective of different disciplines (science and social studies.) It resonates with a diverse student audience mature enough to tackle social justice issues related to race relations and medical ethics in the context of Jim Crow laws and other civil rights era issues. The basis of the book is a line of cells taken from an African-American woman without her permission. Long after her death, the cells continued to advance medical breakthroughs. The book deals with the ramifications of the family not finding out about these cells until years later and the moral and ethical ramifications that followed.
This novel has a great deal of historical relevance and potential for interesting cross-curricular planning units. It could be helpful to teach students how to read from the perspective of different disciplines (science and social studies.) It resonates with a diverse student audience mature enough to tackle social justice issues related to race relations and medical ethics in the context of Jim Crow laws and other civil rights era issues. The basis of the book is a line of cells taken from an African-American woman without her permission. Long after her death, the cells continued to advance medical breakthroughs. The book deals with the ramifications of the family not finding out about these cells until years later and the moral and ethical ramifications that followed.
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The Oxford Illustrated History of the First World War by Hew Strachan
Although this could be used as a stand-alone text in a World History class, it is more likely to be useful as supplemental material when understanding the true impact of the first world war. In order to strive toward disciplinary literacy in the social studies, students have to be able to work with texts related to wars and conflict that have impacted human history. This text, as a classroom reference, provides a good supplement to the material covered in a standard textbook. The photographs and maps used in the text could be very helpful in giving students experience in becoming visually literate with historical photos and geographical landmarks. Although the original publication date is over a decade old, a new edition is scheduled for release in 2014.
Although this could be used as a stand-alone text in a World History class, it is more likely to be useful as supplemental material when understanding the true impact of the first world war. In order to strive toward disciplinary literacy in the social studies, students have to be able to work with texts related to wars and conflict that have impacted human history. This text, as a classroom reference, provides a good supplement to the material covered in a standard textbook. The photographs and maps used in the text could be very helpful in giving students experience in becoming visually literate with historical photos and geographical landmarks. Although the original publication date is over a decade old, a new edition is scheduled for release in 2014.