Novels that tie into Social Studies standards

[nzkiwi]

Hi there! I'm a fourth grader teacher looking some suggestions. My grade level is currently looking to integrate our language arts and social studies programs further. We're specifically interested in finding novels that correlate with our social studies standards. Therefore I'm curious to know, what novels have you used before and found successful for any of the time period/events below?

Native Americans

Explorers

Colonial America/13 Original Colonies

French & Indian and Revolutionary Wars



I'd really appreciate any suggestions anyone can provide.
Thanks a lot!

Becca

 

[SusanTeach]

My Brother Sam

The novel My Brother Sam is Dead is a great novel about the Rev. War. There is a cuss word ("D" word), so that would depend on the restrictions of your school (and you personally). My friend's son read it and she said it's still his favorite book (he's in high school now). It's a higher level book, so it would also depend on your student's levels.

 

[fun_friend]

I like Sign of the Beaver. It is about a boy left alone at a homestead who befriends a native American boy and learns a to respect their culture.

 

[bamagirl]

Dear America Series

Check into the Dear America series. I have used The Journal of William Thomas Emerson with my 5th graders for the Revolutionary time period.

 

[Linda H]

Suggested Books for Regions in Social Studies

Trail on WHich They Wept Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler

A New England Scparbook, Loretta Krupinski

If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island, Ellen Levine

My Name is Maria Isabel by Alma Flor Ada

Going Home to Nicodemus by Daniel Chu and Bill Shaw

The Floating House by Scott Russell Sanders

Pueblo Storyteller, by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmih

The Iron Dragon Never Sleeps, by Stephen Krensky

The Great Yellowstone Fire, by Carole G. Vogel & Kathryn A. Goldner

Kate on the Coast by Pat Brisson

 

[dee]

A couple titles...

Sees Behind Trees

Toliver's Tale

And I deal with low readers, so the Magic tree House books (most levels 2.0-3.0).

 

[Jennifer in OK]

Titles

I agree about The Sign of the Beaver. It deals with Colonization and Native Americans. My Brother Sam is Dead is an excellent Revolutionary War book, and the language can bother some. There was some discussion on another thread about language in novels assigned. Just take precautions to warn parents and students. A Lion to Guard Us deals with colonization. Pedro's Journal is a great exploration book. It would be perfect for 4th graders. Johnny Tremain is a great Revolutionary War read. Like Brother Sam, it is a higher reader level though. If it is too high for indepepdent reading, maybe use it as a read aloud.

 

[Alicia G]

Lots of good suggestions above!

The books recommended in the above posts are all great. One reference I really like when tying books to history (American or world) is Let the Authors Speak by Hatcher. It's a list (actually quite a few lists, I'll explain) of books that are tied into a historical era. It's got one list but it presents the list several times sorted by author, era, location in the world, and grade level. I've often referred to the book when needing to find a novel to go along with an event or time period. Another good book that's similar is Cultures Outside the United States in Fiction by ANderson. Of course, that won't give you US books, but when you are studying world history, it's an excellent resource.

 

[kutia]

Constance

Constance by Patricia Clapp. It's based on actual people. It may be a little to girly for the boys, but it's still a great book. Espcially for 13 Original Colonies stuff.

Another good one is Calico Captive. This one is probably better with Native American/ French & Indian Wars.

 

[saphire]

novels

we read:
Island of the Blue Dolphins (a novel about an indian women in the Channel Islands)
Two Years Before the Mast (by Richard Henry Dana, a man who sails from Boston to California on a trading ship)...
I think it depends on what state you live in...
b/c we also read By the Great Horn Spoon (about the Gold Rush)
Esperanza Rising (immigration)

 

[NJ Teacher]

Colonial Books

I enjoyed Night Journeys and Encounter at Easton by Avi. It took place in colonial PA and NJ along the Delaware River. It was the story of two indentured servant children, and how they tried to escape their master. For Native Americans, I like To Walk the Sky Path by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. It is about a Seminole boy who is trying to straddle living in the modern white person's world and his own traditional one.

 

[cestabrook]

resources

Go to kidsdiscover.com These magazines are full of glossy photos and cool facts - so much more interesting to read than the text book


Read reviews on books and search inside of them on amazon.com!!!!

We Were There, Too - young people in history - fascinating stories and primary documents

American Moments - super model for 6 traits of writing! Great grabbers for a unit.

Novels:
Native Americans: Sing Down the Moon
Explorers: Morning Girl, Pedro's Journal
Colonial: A Lion to Guard Us (great as mentinoned above)

Picture books:

Encounter by Jane Yolen - a Taino boy share his viewpoint of Columbus's arrival.

Exploration and Conquest : The Americas After Columbus: 1500-1620 (The American Story) by Betsy Maestro

The New Americans : Colonial Times: 1620-1689 (The American Story) by Betsy Maestro

Heroines of the American Revolution - truly amazing feats of women!!!

Struggle for a Continent : The French and Indian Wars: 1689-1763 (The American Story) by Betsy Maestro

A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution by Betsy Maestro

 

[cestabrook]

resources

Go to kidsdiscover.com These magazines are full of glossy photos and cool facts - so much more interesting to read than the text book


Read reviews on books and search inside of them on amazon.com!!!!

We Were There, Too - young people in history - fascinating stories and primary documents

American Moments - super model for 6 traits of writing! Great grabbers for a unit.

Novels:
Native Americans: Sing Down the Moon
Explorers: Morning Girl, Pedro's Journal
Colonial: A Lion to Guard Us (great as mentinoned above)

Picture books:

Encounter by Jane Yolen - a Taino boy share his viewpoint of Columbus's arrival.

Exploration and Conquest : The Americas After Columbus: 1500-1620 (The American Story) by Betsy Maestro

The New Americans : Colonial Times: 1620-1689 (The American Story) by Betsy Maestro

Heroines of the American Revolution - truly amazing feats of women!!!

Struggle for a Continent : The French and Indian Wars: 1689-1763 (The American Story) by Betsy Maestro

A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution by Betsy Maestro

 

[Cindy Mc]

Gr 5 teacher

I like the novel "Guns for General Washington" which tells the story of Col. Will Knox transporting the cannons and artillery from Ft. Ticonderoga to Boston.