Posts Tagged ‘History’
Can you believe we are almost done with the second month of 2013 already?
March is soon approaching ….
Do you know what that means?
What things do we celebrate in March?
- March is Music in Our Schools Month …. there is a past Big Universe Blog post from Elizabeth Peterson about that: Music in Our Schools
- March is also National March into Literacy Month: This month celebrates the love of reading among children and promotes awareness of literacy as a fundamental skill for success. Big Universe Learning has lots of books to help with that March!
- March is when we celebrate St Patrick’s Day (Can you find a book on Big Universe to go with that?)
- March is also designated as Women’s History Month … there is a Big Universe Post from last year about that: Want to Celebrate Women’s History?
Here are some books from Big Universe Learning about famous women in history:
The theme for this year’s Women’s History Month involves Innovation and Imagination! I wonder how many of the women featured in the book list above would fit well with the theme this year!
Writing Prompt: Tell this story: One of the hardest parts about being a time-traveling history detective is finding somewhere to plug in your laptop, which meant they really didn’t have much time to finish recording their notes about what they had just witnessed.
Common Core Connection: Writing Anchor Standard 3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
December 7th is a day that stands out in US History. Do you know why? Do your students know?
On Big Universe Learning, I found World War II by Lisa Zamosky and Wendy Conklin. This book is one of the Primary Source Readers from Teacher Created Materials Publishing. This book starts off talking about December 7, 1941 (that is actually the beginning of the first sentence) in a section called ” Secret Missions and Superbombs.” This book contains great pictures, captions, news articles, famous leaders, symbols, and extra information to help answer questions and fill in the gaps. You could work on lots of nonfiction characteristics using this book as well.
Here are some great resources that could be used along with this book:
- From PBS: Freedom: A History of US: Pearl Harbor is part of the excellent PBS site based on Joy Hakim’s A History of US,this focuses on the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and the ramifications of the attack. You can access primary sources andphotographs to bring this part of American history come alive.
- From The War Times Journal: Pearl Harbor Animated Maps presents animated Pearl Harbor maps that provide an overview of the areas that were attacked and the actual action that took place.
- From Scholastic: Relive the Experience Pearl Harbor includes an eyewitness account, timeline, glossary, related web links, and even a teacher’s guide.
- From ThinkQuest: The Pearl Harbor Story shares a very detailed description of the events leading up to the war, the
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and the outcome. Be sure to check the interactive map and the survivor and eye witness accounts. The site also provides great animated photos.
- From Calisphere: Pearl Harbor includes a broad selection of images featuring Japanese-Americans during World War II can be found on this site by Calisphere. By clicking on individual images you’ll find high quality photographs and image information.
- From Scholastic: Our America: World War II is a way to learn about World War II and the American home front through diaries, interviews with those lived through these times, and writing about what you’ve learned.
- From EDSITEment: Turning the Tide in the Pacific 1941-1943 includes activity sheets, student resources, and media, (This from the We The People program: We the People is an NEH program designed to encourage and enhance the teaching, study, and understanding of American history, culture, and democratic principles. )
- From National Geographic Education: A Date That Will Live in Infamy includes the article and vocabulary. There are also links for further exploration (audio, video, interactives, websites) Grades 5-12
- From National Geographic Society: Remembering Pearl Harbor ~ Multimedia Map and Time Line includes articles, images, audio, and places for more information.
- From National Geographic Expeditions: The Legacy of Pearl Harbor includes lesson plan and related links. Grades 3-5
- From ReadWriteThink: Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese in 1941 includes event description, classroom activity/questions, websites, and related resources. This activity really caught my attention:
- On December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy” in the words of President Franklin Roosevelt, many Americans were called upon to act as
heroes. Countless Americans gave their lives in defense of our country and its citizens in Pearl Harbor. Similarly, the surprise attacks on
America on September 11, 2001, called for heroic acts of selflessness from ordinary citizens, as well as firemen, police, military personnel,
and other government workers. Ask students to compare these two events using the interactive Venn Diagram. How are they alike? How are they different?How did each event change American citizens’ perspectives on war and the need for war? How did the two different Presidents of the United States
react? What was different about the media coverage?
It's Flag Day. Read 'The American Flag' or the online biography of an American patriot on Big Universe.
It’s June 14, 2011, and it’s Flag Day – the perfect opportunity to read a patriotic children’s book filled with interesting history facts and beautiful pictures. Written by education consultant Kelly L. Hicks, “The American Flag” is a picture book chock-full of vocabulary-expanding words. The book provides a timeline highlighting the metamorphosis of the great symbol we will see flying high around our nation today.
Historians believe the first flag day celebration was organized by school children in Wisconsin in 1885. Four years later, another school in New York followed suit. Soon, everyone was involved. In 1949, Harry S. Truman signed papers declaring Flag Day as a national holiday. More than 60 years later, the holiday is still going strong. It just goes to show how far a little enthusiasm can go!
“The American Flag” was produced by Rourke Publishing, one of Big Universe’s premium publishing partners. It has 32 pages and is leveled for Grade 3-6. A list of additional patriotic books is printed below, along with links to flag coloring sheets and website pages for patriotic poems, songs and crafts.
Patriotic Books for Children
Children’s Books about Civics on Big Universe
Here are some related links for those feeling extra patriotic.
*NOTE: Big Universe has compiled numerous age-leveled summer reading book lists, as well as assorted topical book lists that will make choosing titles for summer reading simple. Students can tackle one or more of the prearranged lists or pick and choose various featured titles, logging books or reading minutes as they go. Cruise on over to Big Universe’s “Read” page, find the “Browse or Search for Books” sidebar, and click on the “Summer Reading Lists” tab to get a drop-down list. Themes include: Animals, Chapter Books, Cultures, Humor, Nature, Science and Sports.
Or, click on one of the following blog titles for other suggested book lists:
From Black Beard to Anne Bonny, pirates have intrigued the masses for eons. They elicit fear and fascination simultaneously, producing folklore, Hollywood movies, school mascots and books – lots of books.
The nonfiction book “A Thousand Years of Pirates” (ages 10-14) recently earned two nominations for the Canadian Children’s Literature Awards. Written by William Gilkerson of Nova Scotia’s Mahone Bay, the book relates the history of swashbucklers from the Vikings to contemporary pirates, who menace coastlines and open seas around the world. The book is nominated for “Best Book” and “Best Nonfiction Book,” making it eligible for $35,000 in prize money.
“This clear and compelling cross-over [history] for all ages includes not only biographical and dramatic narratives but also the rarely told sordid and sad details of piracy,” the jury said, according to a CBC News report.
For readers who like adventure, BigUniverse.com offers several pirate selections.
- “Pirates,” a graphic written by Joanne Mattern and illustrated by Chris Marrinan, features buccaneers and privateers of the seven seas. Juvenile Level. Historical, but violence mentioned. (Rourke)
- “Lucky the Pirate,” a humorous (but gruesome) tall tale, is written and illustrated by cartoonist John Lakey. Reading Level 2-3. (Remedia)
- “Vikings,” a graphic-styled book about Norsemen pirates, is written by journalism professor Don McLeese and illustrated by Chris Marrinan. Juvenile Level. Historical, but violence mentioned. (Rourke)
For other pirate book suggestions, check out National Geographic’s buccaneer book list. You also can visit the website of Charlesbridge, one of Big Universe’s publishing partners. It offers pirate-themed books such as Fluffy: Scourge of the Sea (Ages 4-7), “Pirate Bob” (Ages 5-9), “A Pirate’s Life for Me” (Ages 3-7) and “Sea Queens” (Ages 9-12).
To double the fun, host a pirate party. Visit these three links for ideas.
- Pirate party games
- Pirate coloring pages
- Pirate party crafts
UPDATE: (Sept. 3, 2010) Three additional pirate-themed books have been added to Big Universe’s library. They are listed under the Read Aloud/humor categories: “I Sail the Sea,” “The Pirates: Row Your Boat“ and “The Pirates? The Princess” are published by MightyBooks. They are “talkies” and are animated, too.
Posted on April 3, 2010 by Suzan Woodard in Uncategorized.
Tags: assessment, Big Universe, book review, Charlesbridge, History, Italy, Online Children's Books, Perserverence, social studies, Underdog
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It’s human nature for people to love a good story about an underdog. Small guy beats big guy. It’s a classic theme – one that kids just eat up!
Tonight, Butler University, a small school in Indianapolis, will battle it out in the Final 4 of the NCAA’s March Madness basketball tournament against huge schools with much bigger sports programs. Back in the Depression, a small thoroughbred horse named Seabiscuit went from long shot to miracle worker when he soundly upset War Admiral – the 1938 Triple Crown Winner – in the “Match of the Century.” And of course, Americans love to retell how their ragtag army of patriots upset the British Empire more than two centuries ago.
The children’s picture book “Pippo the Fool” fits snugly in this genre. It’s a tale of an underdog, who initially gets little respect, but triumphs in the end. Children going through such a social dilemma will relate, especially kids who are a little quirky or are talented but fly under the radar.
What makes this book published by Charlesbridge an even better story is that the tale is true! Author Tracey E. Fern brings history to life as she retells the unusual circumstances surrounding the finishing of the dome on Florence’s Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Italy more than 600 years ago. It features a contest, a braggart, an underdog and justice – all tied up in pretty packaging, thanks to the charming illustrations by Pau Estrada.
“Pippo the Fool” also teaches moral lessons. It encourages readers to reach for the stars. It teaches the value of perseverance and the pursuit of happiness, whether faced with ridicule from the town bully, health challenges or unfair circumstances. Perhaps best of all is the belief that justice is worth hoping for!
Big Universe offers this book online, including a reading comprehension quiz. (Reading Level: F&P N, DRA 34) Dozens of additional books on the website provide quizzes for learning assessment.
