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Social Studies |
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Among
the experiences that have most impacted my view of Social Studies has been
my exposure to "primitive rendezvous'". Throughout
my childhood, my family attended these events and lived for a few days as
one would have prior to the year 1840. We attended rendezvous' in
several different areas ranging from Barren River Lake in southern
Kentucky to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The following captions
pertain to the pictures starting with the one to the left and going
clockwise:
*Me (on the back right) with a group of friends I made at the Old Northwest Primitive Rendezvous in Springfield, OH - 1995. *My mom and brother at our campsite - Old Northwest Primitive Rendezvous in Tennessee - 1993. *Me returning from an adventure - Old Northwest Primitive Rendezvous in Tennessee - 1993. |
| As a child growing up in the 80’s and 90’s I was magically shifted from one era to the next, and back again. With nothing more than a weekend trip, I was transported from modern day to a pre-1840 civilization. A drive to the annual Old Northwest Primitive Rendezvous took me not only down the road, but also into a whole different world. I would find myself wearing moccasins and fringed dresses as I walked down a dirt path winding between canvas tents and tipis. The smell of wood smoke filled the air and the peddler’s calls of fried pies, leather scraps, and fancy bonnets kept my ears alert. I would spend the day playing games like marbles with other children and walking around the camp with my parents. A step through the door of a marquee tent flooded my eyes with all kinds of wonderful goods to buy – everything from beads, to old-fashioned candy, to wool blankets, to primitive clothing was available. As the night began to block out the sun, we would light our candle lanterns and listen for the music to begin. When we heard it, we would walk in the direction of the sound until we found what we were looking for – men and women from around the camp gathered to play instruments and harmonize their voices. Banjos, dulcimers, flutes, and drums would somehow mix together with the words of old Irish or Native American songs to create blessed melodies that drifted freely through the air. | |
Below, you will find an annotated bibliography of excellent picture books relating to the noted Social Studies Core Disciplines.
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Cultural Anthropology Rylant, C. (1985). When I was young in the mountains. New York: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. A young girl growing up in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia shares with the reader stories about her way of life. (1st – 3rd grade) [I, II, V] Aylesworth, J. (1992). The folks in the valley: a Pennsylvania Dutch ABC. New York: HarperCollins. The rhyming nature of this tale about a day in the life of a Pennsylvania Dutch family catches the reader’s attention and keeps the story moving at a steady pace. (K – 1st grade) [I, V, II] Cooney, B. (1988). Island boy. New York: Viking Kestrel. This story tracks the life of Matthais Tibbetts and his beloved island from his birth to his death. (4th – 5th grade) [I, III, II] Pinkney, G. J. (1992). Back home. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. Young Earnestine – born in the country but raised in the city – goes back home to visits her uncle and his family on their North Carolina farm. (2nd – 3rd grade) [I, V, II] Polacco, P. (1992). Mrs. Katz and Tush. New York: Bantam Books. Mrs. Katz shares stories about her Jewish life and traditions with young Larnel. (5th grade) [I, V, II] |
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Economics Hall, D. (1983). The ox-cart man. New York: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. This book describes the life of a New England family in the early nineteenth century throughout the changing seasons of the year. (1st – 3rd grade) [VII, II, V] Johnson, P. B. (1997). Farmers’ market. New York: Orchard Books. Farmers’ Market is a delightful story of young girl and her family on a Saturday at the Farmer’s Market. (1st – 2nd grade) [VII, I, V] Schur, M. P. (1999). The peddler’s gift. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. This story tells about a Jewish peddler in Russia and his interactions with Leibush and his family. (5th grade) [VII, I, V] Schwartz, D. M. (1989). If you made a million. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books. This is an excellent introduction to economics and the ways that money can grow when it is intelligently invested. (2nd – 4th grade) [VII, X, V] Splear, E. L. (2000). Growing seasons. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons. Elsie, the daughter of early 20th century tenant farmers in Illinois, tells about her childhood and the jobs her family did to make a living. (5th grade) [VII, I, II] |
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Geography Bates, K. L. (1993). America the beautiful New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. The simple yet beautiful words of America the Beautiful are brought to life with magnificent illustrations. (K – 2nd grade) [III, II, X] Krupinski, L. (1994). A New England scrapbook: a journey through poetry, prose, and pictures. New York: Harper Collins. This beautifully illustrated books tells about various New England curiosities through collected poems. (3rd – 4th grade) [III, I, VII] Riehle, M. M. (2004). M is for mountain state: a West Virginia alphabet. Chelsea, MN: Sleeping Bear Press. The delightful book shares historical and geographical facts about West Virginia. (2nd – 3rd grade) [III, II, I] Siebert, D. (1981). Train Song. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell. This sing-song poem tells about the journey of a train and the many places it travels to and passes through. (1st - 3rd grade) [III, II, I] Trottier, M. (1998). Prairie willow. New York: Stoddart Kids. From a young girl’s bumpy journey in a covered wagon to an old woman’s home on the prairie, this story tells about a prairie home. (3rd – 4th grade) [III, I, II] |
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History Brown, D. (1997). Alice Ramsey’s grand adventure. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. The true story of Alice Ramsey – the first woman to drive across America – gives insight into the journey of a little-known yet important, historical figure. (4th – 5th grade) [II, III, VIII] Bruchac, J. (2000). Squanto’s journey: the story of the first Thanksgiving. New York: Silver Whistle; Harcourt Inc. Squanto’s Journey chronicles the life of a Patuxet Indian and his never-failing optimism throughout the struggles of his life. (4th – 5th grade) [II, III, I] Kay, V. (1999). Gold fever. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons. This story, told through catchy rhyme, tells of a young man’s journey to California during the gold rush, his bad luck once he gets there, and his return home to his farm. (2nd – 3rd grade) [II, VII, I] Lindbergh, R. (1990). Johnny Appleseed. Boston: Little, Brown & Co. A wonderfully descriptive poem that tells about the life mission and travels of John Chapman. (2nd – 4th grade) [II, III, I] Wilder, L. I. (1953). Little house on the prairie. New York: Harper and Row. The Little House book tells the story of the Ingalls family from the Big Woods on the prairie. (3rd – 5th grade) [II, III, IV] |
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Political Science Barden, L. (2002). America is… New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. America is… is a beautiful book that tells about American and what it stands for. (1st – 5th grade) [X, III, I] Henry, H. F. (2004). Life, liberty, and the pursuit of jellybeans: a fourth of July story. Woodland Hills, CA: Cubbie Blue Publishing. In this story, a young girl of present day is taken on a whimsical adventure with Benjamin Franklin to learn about the Declaration of Independence, the Fourth of July, and what freedom really is. (3rd – 5th grade) [X, II, V] Johnston, J. (1973). Who found America? Chicago: Children’s Press. Who Found American? is a good basic story about the discovery of the Americas and the people who are called "American". (4th – 5th grade) [X, II, I] Silverstein, S. (1964). The giving tree. New York: HarperCollins. This classic story traces the life of a boy as he grows from a child to an old man. Throughout the story, the boy’s interactions with his tree reflect a typical life cycle and the often negative values some Americans cultivate concerning greed. (3rd – 4th grade) [X, V, I] Turner, A. (2001). Abe Lincoln remembers. New York: HarperCollins. Beautiful illustrations bring this simple story of one of our Nation’s greatest leaders to life. (1st – 3rd grade) [X, II, I] |
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Sociology Bowen, K. (1998). Katy’s gift: an Amish story. Philadelphia: Courage Books This story tells about Amish brother and sister Katy and Amos and the lessons they are taught by their parents. (2nd – 3rd grade) [V, I, VII] Bradby, M. (1995). More than anything else. New York: Orchard Books. This inspiring story tells about young Booker T. Washington, his desire to learn to read, the people he lived with, and the man who opened the world to him by teaching him to read. (3rd – 4th grade) [V, II, I] Hendershot, J. (1987). In coal country. New York: Alfred Knopf. The life of a miner’s family is vividly seen through the eyes of his daughter. (3rd – 4th grade) [V, I, III] Polacco, P. (1992). Chicken Sunday. New York: Philomel Books. This story tells about the interactions between a Russian family and an African American family. As the story unfolds, customs from each culture and shared with one another. (4th grade) [V, I, X] Stewart, S. (2001). The journey. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. Hannah writes in her diary while on vacation in Chicago about all the new things she sees and compares them with her own Amish community. (3rd – 4th grade) [V, I, III] |
