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The Interactive Classroom
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New Rochelle, NY 10804
T: 914-636-0888
E: astix@optonline.net
Virtual Book Tour
Taking the virtual book tour is an easy way to view the materials in the Exploring History book series. You can scroll through the page below to view each book section. The figures are in Adobe PDF format, which require the Adobe© Reader™.
NOTE: The following samples are all taken from the 'Civil War and Reconstruction' book.
1. Book Organization
Each book begins with a table of contents and a detailed introduction, which outlines the book and explains our philosophy and approach. Each book is divided into eight sections for easy reference and guidance.
2. Correlation of Activities to NCSS Standards
This section offers a correlation of each activity to the curriculum Standards of the National Council of Social Studies (NCSS). This handy reference guides teachers to learning objectives and outcomes, and carefully relates the lessons to established educational guidelines.
This example displays an illustration of the charted lessons and their matching standards. Each standard has been carefully considered and covered in each book.
3. Management and Resources
This section includes important background information that is relevant to understanding the full scope of the time period covered in the book.
A suggested schedule of lessons, activities, homework, and independent work is offered. This example shows weekly schedules divided into 45-minute periods.
Also included, is a list of young adult reading that incorporates history with the theme of personal exploration. Such a guide serves as a useful reference for teachers who haven't the time to scour the library for new and young adult literature, which is indispensable to the social studies curriculum.
This encourages schools to build young adult literature book rooms for the Social Studies and Humanity departments.
The Method of Using Multi-Level Literature Circles is outlined. This unique approach to incorporating historical fiction into the social studies classroom is explained in detail, so teachers might feel more comfortable varying the reading techniques they use in class.
Teachers are provided with suggested resources, which include general reference books, artwork, web sites, etc.
4. Simulations and Activities
For easy reference, the National Standards are listed at the beginning of each lesson. This is an example of a lobbyist hearing, one simulation strategy, that addresses "Should or Shouldn't We Celebrate Columbus Day?"
The example shows multiple points of view (diagram is pictured on the right), an essential part of the social studies curriculum. One of the main objectives of the series is to teach students how to view situations from other people's perspectives so that they gain a more global understanding of the dilemma.
Negotiable Contracting of Assessment or Rubrics gives students clear objectives and a sense of ownership over their learning and their grades. It also provides teachers with clear-cut guidelines for assessing student performance.
Essential to any teaching plan is how to prepare the simulation and the techniques to run the simulation, how to chart the results, and how to reflect on what took place. Every book provides teachers with clear guidelines and suggestions.
5. Student Handbooks
Two student handbooks allow for differentiated instruction. One is appropriate for grades 5-7, the other for grades 8 and above. Below is an example of each to show the comparison.
This first example is for grades 5-7.
This second example is for grades 8 and above.
6. Overhead Transparencies
Creative and illustrative overhead transparencies are included with each book in the series, enhancing learning with visual aids.
Eye-catching, descriptive etchings and photos will help students visualize essential information.
Examples of technology will appeal to students' interests.
A variety of relevant maps help students understand geography and the role it plays in historical events and issues.
7. Online Connections
Creative and illustrative overhead transparencies are included with each book in the series, enhancing learning with visual aids.
In today's schools, electronic resources are essential to student learning and enrichment. Finding materials that will highlight the social studies curriculum can be time consuming for teachers and difficult for students. Here, students are provided with a list of online resources that are relevant to course material.
8. Appendices and Bonus Items
We have provided a variety of additional materials to enhance the teaching and learning experience. Reproducible items may include:
Plays
Diaries
Cards
All books include:
Answer Keys to the activities
A Rubric Bank of 100 Criteria
A Multimedia CD-ROM that offers scores of thumbnail images, movies, sound, and video clips.
9. Assessment
Our books provide a variety of suggested assessment methods:
Multiple choice
Constructed response
Document-based questions using primary source documents of four distinct viewpoints
An essay section based on primary source documents, which requires students to synthesize four views into one global response
For more information about Exploring History, please contact us today!
