Drake Golden

Resource Collection
Standard 1: CC.8.5.6-8.D. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a

text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.

Topic 1: Finding key words, phrases, and moments from resources regarding early American

history

1. Four Trade Books

i. Speare, E., (1983). The Sign of the Beaver. Houghton Mifflin.

Matt Hallowell is a twelve-year-old boy who is left to guard a cabin in a secluded part of Maine
during the middle of summer in the 18th century. He likes the isolation and enjoys fulfilling daily
chores and tasks, until one day a man comes asking for a meal, only to steal his rifle. Not long
after that, a bear ransacks his house. Things only get worse when Matt tries to get honey from a
bee’s nest and the bees attack him. He is saved by two Native Americans who bring him back to
health. From there, Matt agrees to teach the grandson, Attean, how to read English. From there,
Matt realizes that there have been people calling this place home long before white settlers got
there. Now he is conflicted with the changes the white people are bringing to the frontier.
Readers will be able to use this text to find important words and moments that bring connect
with the content covered in class regarding the life of Native Americans in the 18th century.

ii. Edmunds, W., & Lantz, P., (1941). The Matchlock Gun. Dodd, Mead & Co.

During the French and Indian War, the British colony of New York was under constant scrutiny
from the Indians and the French. In 1756, the main character Edward was left to protect his
mother and sister after his father was called to watch for a raid elsewhere. All he had to protect
them was his father’s matchlock gun, a weapon twice the size he was. The question to ask is
could he handle the gun if he needed to? Find out if Edward will face trouble in this historical
fiction read. Students will pull out words and phrases connected to class in this text to make
connections to the content.

iii. Anderson, L. (2000). Fever 1793. Simon & Schuster.

In the summer of 1793, Philadelphia townspeople are going on about a yellow fever outbreak,
where more people are continuously dying. This gets more intense when Mattie Cook, whose
family owns a local coffee shop, is impacted by the spread of the fever. First, her friend, a server
at the coffee shop, dies of the fever. The more the fever’s impact gets closer to home, the less her
focus is on one day growing the little family business into a thriving enterprise. Her attention
must now be on staying alive. There is also recognition of slavery through their cook, who was
once enslaved and whose husband was still enslaved until his passing. In this reading, students
will have to find vocabulary to relate to what we have learned about early American history.
 iv. Allen, T. (2005). George Washington, Spymaster: How the Americans Outspied
the British and Won the Revolutionary War. Scholastic, Inc.

The book gives an unconventional account from the period of the Revolutionary War, one of the
most influential in American history. It focuses on the role that George Washington played in the
action. Figures like him and Benjamin Franklin are revealed in this book to have been involved
in spy activities, an invisible war going on during this time that many do not know about. In the
book we read about Washington's secret code book, telling of the failures and successes of the
mid-18th century. This book is good at sparking the imagination of its readers, especially through
key phrases and vocabulary, due to the amount of unknown information that is uncovered in it.

2. App- Socrative Teacher: this app allows teachers to gather data on how well their

students are retaining information by creating quizzes, games, and other useful tools

to collect data. It is also simple to move data and export it if needed.

3. The link below allows students to search for information on historical topics we

are covering in class. The students can check it out for themselves, or I can send them

to a particular article that we will work on that day. There is lots of information

regarding colonial American history and the Revolutionary War.

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/

Standard 2: CC.8.5.6-8.A. Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and

secondary sources.

Topic: Finding relatable quotes and information from resources about the Civil War

1. Four Trade Books

i. Wartis, E. (2007). Iron Thunder: The Battle Between the Monitor & the
Merrimac. Hyperion Book CH.

This book is about a teenage boy who must become a family provider after his father dies in
battle with the Union during the Civil War. To do this, he starts working at an ironworking
factory in Brooklyn. Soon after, he quickly realizes what they are building: an unsinkable ship to
combat the Confederates’ unsinkable ship, the Merrimac. The ship they were constructing would
be named the Monitor. This book takes us on a fictional journey through the eyes of a teenager
that builds and serves on an influential ship in our country’s history. Students will have to pull
out quotes to use for specific assignments.
 ii. Imery-Garcia, A. (2020). Loreta Janeta Velázquez: Cuban Confederate Soldier.
Rosen Central.

Loreta Janeta Velazquez was a Cuban woman with an intriguing story. She took on the fake
identity of a male so she could join the Confederate army. Harry Buford, as she was known, was
skilled at deception and an excellent spy for the Confederates during the Civil War. This book
provides an interesting look at a person who was dedicated to her cause in an unorthodox way
and is tailored to be read by middle schoolers who can benefit from getting knowledge of what it
was like for women to be a part of fighting in the 19h century. While reading this book, students
can recognize quotes that relate to the information they have learned.

iii. Burleigh, R. (2019). O Captain, My Captain: Walt Whitman, Abraham Lincoln,

and the Civil War. Abrams Books for Young Readers.

This is a book with a couple different items. Walt Whitman’s famous poem is in there, along
with other experts from the well-known writer. These sources provide multiple information to
learn from about the Civil War. There are also multiple connections to be made between
Abraham Lincoln’s work and Whitman’s. Readers can read quotes from Abraham Lincoln and
others to understand what they are trying to say within the text.

iv. Harmon, J. (2013). Civil War Memoirs of a Confederate Soldier. Lulu Press.

This is a resource written by a soldier during the civil War, from his perspective serving in the
Confederacy. He was a native of the South and was living in Florence, Alabama when he joined
the army. He was a part of the 35th Alabama infantry during the war. Harmon authors his story of
the time he spent serving to share what he endured and felt. This fascinating read opens eyes
directly to what was going on from a first-person viewpoint.

2. App- QOTD: this is a tool that students can use to help them find and log quotes for future

use on their device. You can either take a picture or type it in manually, punching in the quote

and the author plus any additional information. From there, the student can put them in a folder,

for a specific book or unit. This will give them an easier and quicker way of finding the quotes

they liked and want to refer to.

3. Below is a link to a website with a lot of information on what the battlefield was like

during the civil war and multiple tabs to click on about more specific aspects. Pictures are

present as well to provide a visual, but students can enjoy surfing through the website and

learning more about what fighting was all about during this time in American history.
https://www.heartofthecivilwar.org/?

gclid=CjwKCAjwg4SpBhAKEiwAdyLwvDfKSQEMCIRCK-

nix4YFtlIZ48FYJMz6qYDwlSYwlI7umlHLQolRGRoCTscQAvD_BwE

Standard 3: CC.8.5.6-8.F. Identify aspects of a text that reveal an author’s point of view or

purpose (e.g., loaded language, inclusion, or avoidance of particular facts).

Topic: Recognize the purpose of a text regarding early Chinese civilizations.

1. Four Trade Books

i. Professor, B. (2021). Ancient China for Kids- Early Dynasties, Civilization and
History. Captivating History.

This book offers information about the early Chinese kingdom being one of the most advanced
in the world at the time. Its culture is very rooted in traditions and ideals. Many famous leaders
and dynasties headed the kingdom throughout its reign. A lot of them have even shaped the place
into the successful country it is today. What this book does is show pictures of these things and
allow readers to grasp easy concepts regarding this early civilization. The pictures can show the
main purpose of what the author is trying to express.

ii. Lin, G. (2009). Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Little, Brown, and
Company.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is about a girl, Minli, who becomes friends with a talking
goldfish, a boy with a buffalo, and a dragon that cannot fly. Her adventures take her on a journey
to see the man on the moon. The old man allegedly could help change her family’s wealth.
Along the way her new friends help her get to the man on the moon, and she also learns lessons
of true wealth and happiness. The main point in the story is to express stories of ancient Chinese
culture and ways they learned lessons through stories.

iii. Nagle, J. (2015). Discovering Ancient China. Britannica Educational Publishing.

This book portrays different dynasties of early China, specifically the rulers of these dynasties,
and what was important about them as they pertain to today’s world. Readers will dive into
information about the completion of the Great Wall, old Chinese writing, and Confucius as a
philosopher, and more. There is a lot of information about what made this such a fascinating
period to study.

iv. Bailey, D. (2014). Digging Up the Past: Emperor Qin’s Terra-Cotta Army.
ABDO Publishing.

The book uncovers the creation of mausoleum, discusses plans for future preservation, and traces
discovery and scientific investigation. Inside are numerous sidebars, pictures, and tools that
engage readers in the content to help with understanding these ancient concepts. The text
outlines effectively topics that include many different kingdoms and people who made it the
significant culture that it is today. The information of the book can show the students what the
main idea is, along with the pictures and other side information.

2. App- Google Arts & Cultures: this app allows teachers to take students on virtual

tours and see around 2,000 cultural institutions across 80 countries. Students can

benefit in many ways from this tool for whatever period in history we are covering.

3. Attached is a website that allows students to click on different tabs that show

specific information about a particular area or philosophy that came out of the ancient

Chinese era. This includes things like major dynasties, inventions, and people, and so

much more.

https://www.ducksters.com/history/china/ancient_china.php

Standard 4: CC.8.5.6-8.H. Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgement in a text.

Topic: Analyze texts that relate to the Great Depression of America.

1. Four Trade Books

i. Curtis, C. (1999). Bud, Not Buddy. Delacorte Books for Adult Readers.

This book is set in 1936, where Bud lives in Michigan. He is a ten-year-old boy who had no
mother and sets out on a journey to find his dad, who he does not know anything about except
for what his mother left as a clue: pamphlets about Herman Calloway and his famous band. Poor,
hungry, afraid, and determined, he decides to follow the possible trail that his mother left. The
novel takes us through a fictional story of a boy who is feeling the effects of the Great
Depression but does not let that get the best of him as he attempts to find his father. This book
allows students to find out what it would have been like for a parentless kid to live in the Great
Depression and sypher through judgement during the story.

ii. Hunt, I. (1970). No Promises in the Wind. Follett.

For millions of people in the United States in 1932, it was common to be jobless, hungry, and
homeless. The book takes us through the story of a fifteen-year-old who is trying to navigate life
during these tough times. Along the way he must deal with people who are also struggling
through the Depression. The contents of this book also help students to look through the lens of a
young person who is trying to find what judgement to use, therefore the students will also be able
to figure out for themselves what judgement and opinions are right or wrong.
 iii. Mackall, D. (2007). Rudy Rides the Rails: A Depression Era Story. Sleeping Bear
Press.

The Depression has hit Rudy’s home just as it has so many others in the country since the crash
of 1929. This puts strain on both of his parents, as his father sulks about losing his job in Akron,
Ohio, and his mother worries about not being able to feed her family. Rudy hears of others who
are travelling west to seek fortune and decides to join. He hops trains as he travels all the way to
California on this uncertain journey. This book illustrates pictures that may help with visualizing
the hardships of the 1930’s and what Rudy had to go through, while discussing things that may
connect with information we are learning in class.

iv. KidCaps. (2012). The Great Depression: A History Just for Kids. CreateSpace
Publishing.

This book portrays the poverty that enraptured the Great Depression. We read of how people
had to get in line to be fed before and after looking for work every day trying to earn anything
they could for themselves and for their families. The book also zooms in on what this life looked
like for kids during the era. Students will be able to benefit from this book because it provides a
broader scope about one event in history, rather than a generic textbook. They can look through
the information and find what is factual and what is opinionated based on what they know about
the Great Depression from previous lessons.

2. App- Historical Calendar: this app allows you to look at historical timelines from

different areas of history. The students can put searches in that narrow the timeline

down, and this allows students to see the order that certain events were in, along with

other valuable information that is also provided.

3. The website below provides many different tabs to click on that allow students to

choose what they aspects of the Great Depression they want to learn about, including

things that I may not cover in class that they could find interesting and even present

on as part of an assignment. Tying to the standard, this website can be used to figure

out what information they believe to be fact or opinion, as well as using reasoned

judgement.

https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression

Standard 5: CC.8.5.6-8.B. Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary

source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
Topic: Analyzing and producing summaries for texts regarding World War II.

1. Four Trade Books

i. Kindersley, D. (2015). World War II: Visual Encyclopedia. DK Children.

This book shows tons of different battles, people, causes, and much more, along with pictures to
bring this important historical event to life. Read about military strategies, land, and aerial
advancements, tanks, weapons, and campaigns as well. Young readers can also benefit from
wartime leaders’ and other soldiers’ biographies to gain a clearer interpretation of what people at
the front lines often faced. Students can find a piece of history they are interested in within this
book and will be able to pull out the main ideas, along with summarizing the information they
read.

ii. Morpurgo, M. (2010). An Elephant in the Garden. HarperCollins Children’s

Books.

When fighting strikes near a zoo, Lizzie and Karl’s mother, a zookeeper, convince the director to
allow an elephant named Marlene to stay in their garden instead of being put down. When the
bombing starts, thousands of people are forced to flee from the city, including Lizzie and Karl
and the rest of their family. This proves challenging as they have an elephant with them, keeping
them from taking the normal paths. With the help of a friend they meet on the way, a Canadian
navigator named Peter, they must somehow survive the trek as fighting continues. With this
book, students can follow an interesting story as they find the main historical points and are able
to make a summary of what is going on.

iii. Malam, J. (2010). You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Secret Agent During World War II!
Franklin Watts.

Young and/or potentially reluctant readers will examine what it was like to be a secret agent
from Britain who was in France working behind enemy lines during the second world war. This
book puts readers in the driver’s seat by making them part of the story as the main character.
They will look at techniques, training, and equipment used by secret agents along with the
danger many faced during the war. These students will be able to pull out the main takeaways the
author portrays in the book easily.

iv. Doeden, M. (2018). World War II Resistance Fighters. Lerner Publications.

Adolf Hitler was in the prime of his terror with the Nazi party when the 1940s came about.
Although many feared them, there were also people who fought back by giving false information
to the enemy, sabotaging supply lines and equipment, and sharing information with the Allies.
They also played a significant role in hiding Jews in Germany. Readers can find main ideas and
summarize how the resistance fighters quietly battled the Nazi’s.
 2. App- World War II Interactive: Students will be able to interact with this to learn

more about the many components that made up WWII. There are also videos you can

play to learn from along with the readings.

3. Attached is a website that takes you through online information from the National

WWII Museum. Students can look through the various aspects of the website and find

specific main ideas from an informational section.

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/explore-wwii-history