Esther Barber

Resource Guide

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Childrens Literature:
1st Grade: An Ellis Island Christmas, by Maxinne Rhea Leighton
https://www.amazon.com/Ellis-Island-Christmas-Maxinne-Leighton/dp/014240506X
430L
2nd Grade: Africa is not a Country, by Margy Burns Knight
https://www.amazon.com/Africa-Country-Margy-Burns-Knight/dp/0761316477
6-8 years
4th Grade: A Gift for Mama, by Esther Hautzig
https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Mama-Puffin-Chapters/dp/0140385517
720L
5th Grade: All the Money in the World, by Bill Brittain
https://www.amazon.com/All-Money-World-Bill-Brittain/dp/0064401286
530L
1st Grade: Freedom Summer, by Deborah Wiles
https://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Summer-Deborah-Wiles/dp/068987829X
AD460L
Kindergarten: A Grandfathers Journey, by Allen Say
https://www.amazon.com/Grandfathers-Journey-Allen-Say/dp/0547076800
AD650L
Non Fiction
1st Grade: Cornstalks and Cannonballs, by Barbara Mitchell
https://www.amazon.com/Cornstalks-Cannonballs-Barbara-Mitchell/dp/0440405335
Ages 5-9
3rd Grade: Let it Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters, by Andrea Davis Pinkney
https://www.amazon.com/Let-Shine-Stories-Freedom-Fighters/dp/0547906048
940L
4th Grade: We the People: The Constitution of the United States of America, by Peter Spier
https://www.amazon.com/We-People-Peter-Spier/dp/0385419031
IG1240L
3rd Grade:The Fall of the Berlin Wall: The Cold War Ends, by Nigel Kelly
https://www.amazon.com/Fall-Berlin-Wall-Point-Impact/dp/1575724138
810L
Kindergarten: A Children's Chorus, by Dutton
https://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Chorus-UNICEF/dp/0525445455
6 and up
1st Grade: For Every Child, (adapter) by Caroline Castle
https://www.amazon.com/Every-Child-Caroline-Castle/dp/0803726503
All ages
Websites
Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago (CRFC) http://www.crfc.org/
This website is trying to strengthen American democracy by providing elementary and
secondary students with hands-on learning about the Constitution to prepare them for informed
civic engagement. It has tabs for teaching materials, professional development, student
programs, and an events calendar.
Pros:
Its organized.

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Has tabs for both teachers and students

There are ways to be involved in democracy listed on the website.
From what I can gather, things are free on this site.
There is a good search system for materials.
Cons:
You have to email in order to get into the resource center; there isnt just material available on
the site.
It says that it is for all grades, but it seems more geared toward the older grades (con for me).
You have to download things (you cant just view it on the site), and you have to register.
Useful tips, ideas, or activities that can be used in class
You could go to one of the events that is advertised on the calendar.
On the side, it says something about making sure your students know they have a voice. I think
it is important for teachers to be reminded of this.
Kids.gov https://kids.usa.gov/index.shtml
The website is very visual, and it is organized in a way that is good for kids. There are other
tabs for older kids, and there also tabs for teachers and parents. It is well-organized, and it looks
like it has a lot to offer.
Pros:
There are games, videos, and educational places.
It has more pictures than words - a child could navigate it.
It has a fun zone
Has a question of the week, and you can check the answer.
It has seasonal games.
Has lesson plans for teachers.
An account isnt necessary to access information.
Cons:
Not a huge con, but it is more than a social studies website.
It wants people to make an account and get emails.
It asks you to take a survey.
Useful tips
There is a card sorting activity on the website that introduces a bill becoming a law.
There are a lot of videos that could be used as anticipatory sets.
They have infographics as resources.
Interactive Sites for Education http://interactivesites.weebly.com/
The site has a link to all of the different subject areas on the home page. There are tabs for
teacher tools, brain teasers, and more. There are links to informational pages and then there
are also activities and games.
Pros:
A student could easily navigate this website.
There are activities as well as information.
Its a very visual website.
You dont have to sign up for anything.
Cons:
You dont know what the link is to until you click on it. There arent descriptions about the links.
There are barely any teacher tools.
There are no lessons available.
Useful tips
Really, you could just have them play on the website. It isnt super useful, but it could be fun if
they have some free time.
Links to Lessons, Blogs, activity, or Units

1. http://www.teacher.org/lesson-plan/friendship-conflict-resolution
a. Friendship - Conflict Resolution for 1st Grade
b. Pros:
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It includes vocabulary instruction
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It is a well-organized lesson.
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It has a skit as an assessment.
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It has a book that is tied to it.
c. Cons:
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Teacher is the source of knowledge in the lesson.
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The game at the beginning seems fun, but I dont know if it is the best option for the lesson. The
point may be lost on some of the students.
2. http://www.teacher.org/lesson-plan/we-must-recycle
a. We Must Recycle for 2nd Grade
b. Pros:
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Well-organized
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Has an authentic assessment that involves creating something.
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Has differentiation
c. Cons:
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Doesnt have an independent or guided practice.
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It could be a really effective lesson, but it doesnt seem full yet.
3. http://www.education.com/activity/article/mayflower_compact/
a. The Mayflower Compact: Would You Sign? For 5th Grade
b. Pros:
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Has them imagining a situation - makes it more authentic.
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Its free
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Has questions that they have to answer
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I cant find any.