Open Wide, Look Inside

The capital of the United States of America wasn’t always Washington DC.  Read about how our nation’s capital has moved and changed as well as how the capital city, Washington DC has grown and changed. Capital explains the detailed history of the important buildings in Washington DC, such as the White House:

James Hoban, the architect, had designed a large, gracious, and comfortable mansion that was quite grand by the standards of eighteenth-century America.  Critics, however, claimed it was ‘big enough for two emperors, one Pope, and the Grand Lama.’

Lynn Curlee’s book Capital is particularly precise and structured.  At the end, Curlee notes,

The word ‘capitol’ refers to the building in which a state legislature meets.  ‘Capitol’ refers to the building in which the U.S. Congress meets.  The word ‘capital’ refers to the city or town serving as the seat of government.

Curriculum Connections
This book can be used to teach about Washington DC and the development of our nation’s capital.  In Virginia, it can be used to teach SOL 1.11, which states that students will recognize the symbols and practices that honor and foster patriotism in the United States.

Additional Resources

• Lesson Plans about George Washington and his work to establish the capital.
• A map of the Capitol Complex

Book: Capital
Author/Illustrator:  Lynn Curlee
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 2003
Pages: 40
Grades: 1-5
ISBN: 0-689-84947-8

Elections, elections, elections have been the pressing news topics recently with the President Campaign just ending. What better way then to teach students about the importance of voting with the book Vote! by Eileen Christelow. The book does an outstanding job in explaining all about voting, the importance of it and how it actually works in children friendly language.

The book begins by using a town that is looking to elect a new major. The text follows the process of a campaign starting by explaining voting and ending with the inauguration of the new mayor, even adding in a recount. Christelow gives background information of the history of voting, registration process, different political parties. fundraising and how the ballots are counted:

If you want to vote, you need to register. Where? At your town office. Or you can download a registration form from the Internet or you might even find a both set up at a shopping mall or at a political rally (Page 17).

The colorful, comic like illustrations provide excellent support for the text and have relevant bubble captions. One of the most impressive aspect of the book is additional information included. It includes a vocabulary sheet in simple language, a timeline of voting rights, information on political parties and additional references. This book would be a great way to introduce your class to voting and all of the processes involved in a way that tailors to questions children would have or be unsure of. The book is simple, informative and a fun way for your class to learn about their civic duty and how every vote counts!

Curriculum Connections

This book would be a great way to introduce the civic duties of citizens they have as they get older such as voting. It talks about our responsibility to be active in voting as it impacts the schools, town and laws being made and how each person has a voice. In Virginia it would relate to the Standard of Learning for Civics, where students can explain the responsibility of being a good citizen by taking part in the voting process of classroom decision making (1.10 f, 2.10 b)

Additional Resources

• Take students on a mock campaign trail. Explore the different political parties and getting support from community members.
• Additional lesson plans, classroom activities and connections to this year’s election.
• Coloring pages relating to voting.

Book: Vote!
Author/Illustrator: Eileen Christelow
Publisher: Clarion Books
Publication Date: 2003
Pages: 48 pages
Grades: 1-3
ISBN: 0618247548

Do you know how a bill is made into a law in our country? In My Senator and Me: A Dog’s Eye-View of Washington, D.C. we are shown a day in the life of a senator. For an extra little twist though, the story is told by Senator Edward Kennedy’s dog, Splash, who accompanies Senator Edward Kennedy to work in the Capitol every day. After a brief introduction about himself and his becoming the Kennedy’s dog, the rest of the story goes into a day of accompanying Senator Edward Kennedy to work. On this particular day, Massachusetts’s senator is in the process of passing his bill concerning education. First he must meet with his staff at the Senate Office Building, then head over to a press conference at the Capitol. After which there is a short break for a relaxing game of fetch with Splash. Then it’s back to work, off to a conference committee meeting, but only after stopping for a quick photo with a class. Finally it’s off to the Senate reception room where the senator will cast his vote and then announce the passing of the bill on T.V. before heading home for the day.

This is a great story to give students an idea of what our senators do for us in the government. Senator Kennedy took the opportunity to present a few of the monuments of Washington D.C. within the story as well. While mentioning these important monuments he also makes sure to tell a little of its history, such as:

…the Kennedy Center, where people go to hear music, see plays, and watch the ballet. It was named for my Senator’s brother, John F. Kennedy, who was the thirty-fifth President of the United States and a great supporter of the arts…the Lincoln Memorial, where millions of people from all over the world go to remember Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President, who led our country during the Civil War…

Filled with wonderful pictures on every page and a fun story line from a dog’s point of view, My Senator and Me is a great story to read to kids for both entertainment and information of how a part of our government system works.

Curriculum Connections
This book can be used to teach students about a branch of our government, which pertains to SOL 3.10 for Virginia teachers. It is a great source to teach students about senators and how bills are passed, two very important parts to our government system.

Additional Resources

• Take an interactive tour of the Capital after reading about it with your students.
• Show your students pictures from all over our nation’s capital, Washington D.C.

Book: My Senator and Me: A Dog’s-Eye View of Washington, D. C.
Author: Senator Edward M. Kennedy
Illustrator: David Small
Publisher:Scholastic Press
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 56 pages
Grades: 1-5
ISBN: 0439650771

Saying the pledge of allegiance is something most children do every morning at school.  However, do they truly understand the meaning of these words, or do they simply have it memorized to their brain?  How many times have you heard a child say the words incorrectly?  Scholastic’s The Pledge of Allegiance both teaches students the words to the pledge of allegiance and connects it to the meaning behind them.

The Pledge of Allegiance goes through the pledge, from beginning to end, displaying a phrase on each page. Accompanying this phrase, Scholastic shows a photograph(s) that represent it.  The first page begins, “I pledge allegiance.”  This page also displays four children who have placed their hands over their heart.  My favorite part of this book however, is the last few pages.  Here Scholastic includes two pages that describe the photos and why their importance to the United States and the pledge.  There is also a page that answers important questions about the pledge of allegiance.

What Does the Pledge of Allegiance Mean?
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…
When we “pledge” allegiance,” we promise to be loyal to our country.

There is also a section on the American flag.  This section lists a number of days that citizens of the United States should especially display the flag.  Scholastic features pictures of the first United States flag and the flag today as well.   Here students can learn about the differences and similarities between the flags and what each part of the flag represents. Finally, The Pledge of Allegiance features a Did You Know… section about the United States flag.

When a flag gets too old to display, it is burned in a special ceremony.

Through the use of bold photographs and their descriptions, The Pledge of Allegiance will surely capture the attention of students.

Curriculum Connections
The Pledge of Allegiance is a great book to introduce, teach, or reinforce the importance of the pledge of allegiance.  Students will learn how to respect the flag and our country by learning the pledge and understanding its meaning (VA K.9 and 1.1).  This book also shows many important American symbols.  Most importantly, students can gain an overall sense of their responsibilities as an American citizen.  The Pledge of Allegiance truly fosters a sense of patriotism in the classroom.
Additional Resources

• Check out this site for lesson plans, songs, poems, and more books about the United States flag and the pledge of allegiance.  Day to day activities are also available!
• Create a book mark that features the pledge of allegiance and important American symbols!  Templates for this craft as well as other activities are included!
• Use this site for background information on the history of the United States flag, symbols, and the pledge of allegiance.  Along with the detailed content information, there are also activity outlines, including a lesson where students create their own pledge of allegiance and flag that represents their identity!

Book: The Pledge of Allegiance
Author: Scholastic
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. 
Publication Date: 200o
Pages: 32 pages
Grades: K-3
ISBN: 0439241847

Do you want to learn about one of the greatest symbols of democracy? The U.S. Constitution, written by Norman Pearl, introduces students to the foundation that the United States government is based on. It begins by having James Madison, a man who played a large part in the construction of the Constitution, lead readers on a tour. He discusses what the Constitution consists of, who made the Constitution, and all of the different parts that guarantee rights to the citizens of the United States.

In clearly defined questions and terms, Pearl lays out for a young reader the important parts of the Constitution and what they stand for. There is an entire page devoted to describing the different branches of government with bright and bold  illustrations that create an easy way for readers to visualize who and what make up these entities.

The articles divide the U.S government into three branches. Each branch has different powers. No one branch can become stronger than the others.

Pearl not only describes the freedoms that the Constitution guarantees for the adults of this country. He also talks about the rights that children are privileged to, such as the ability to go to school for free and a limit on the number of hours they can work.

This book is very well labeled for students to find exactly what they are interested in or looking for. The print is large and easy to read and the illustrations do not get in the way of the information being addressed. The last few pages even give additional resources for students who want to learn more,  extending the knowledge they have already gained from this very informative book.

Curriculum Connections
This book could be used to explain the purpose of rules and laws, and that the government protects the rights and property of individuals. It could also be used to explain that the basic purposes of government are to make laws and carry them out. (3.10) This book could be used to explain the importance of the basic principles that form the foundation of a republican form of government by describing the individual rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.(3.11)

Additional Resources

• Play this fun Preamble Scramble!
• Test your knowledge of the branches of the government with this Interactive Game.

Book: The U.S. Constitution
Author:  Norman Pearl
Illustrator: Matthew Skeens
Publisher: Picture Window Books
Publication Date:2007
Pages: 24
Grades: 1-4
ISBN: 1-4048-2646-7

We tend to remember exactly what we were doing when monumental events occur. Liberty! pinpoints the actions of a young boy on the day he witnessed and participated in the unveiling of one of our national symbols, the Statue of Liberty.

Allan Drummond’s book uses facts from the ceremony as a framework for a personal account of the event. Drummond begins the book with a note to readers that explains historical information of the day that the Statue of Liberty was unveiled in New York. Using these facts, Drummond creates a fictional story of a young boy whose was responsible for providing the signal for the revelation.

While highlighting the building of the Statue of Liberty, Drummond also emphasizes the relations between the United States and France and the presence of the woman’s suffrage movement.

We passed plenty of boats–all sizes–some flying the American flag and some flying the flag of France. And all around us people cheered and yelled, ‘Liberty!’ and ‘Freedom!’. A big steamship sailed into the harbor from the ocean loaded with immigrants just arriving from Europe, coming to America to find liberty and freedom for a better life. And near the island there was a ferryboat full of women shouting, ‘How long must we wait for liberty?’

Once the young boy accidentally uses the signal which unveils the statue, Drummond concludes by using this national symbol to instruct students of the universal rights of individuals to freedom and equality to believe and say what each individual wishes.

Curriculum Connections
Liberty! can be used for civics instruction by teaching topics of national symbols and by explaining the responsibilities of a good citizen. This book can introduce students to national symbols which represent the beliefs and practices of the United States. Also, Drummond’s focus in the end of the story helps to explain the responsibilities of a good citizen (In Virginia this corresponds with SOLs 1.10 and 2.10).

Additional Resources

• This site provides many lessons on civics topics including the Statue of Liberty. The lesson includes background information and activities for students such as a crossword puzzle, quiz, grammar worksheet, bingo, and maps that all relate to the Statue of Liberty.

• Mrs. Crites’ Fourth grade website includes links for activities about the Statue of Liberty in addition to ideas for teaching other American symbols and civics topics.

Book: Liberty!
Author:Allan Drummond
Publisher:Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication Date: 2002
Pages:40 pages
Grades: 1-2
ISBN: 0374343853

The Constitution of the United States of America is one of the most important documents in our country’s history. It currently resides in a museum, people write books about it, and some of the most important people in our history helped write it and sign it. Why is it then that most kids do not understand a single word of the document? We the Kids by David Catrow has one line per page of the phrases of the Preamble to the Constitution and a full page at the beginning explaining each phrase. Catrow explains the fourth phrase of the preamble with short words in kid friendly terms: “Insure domestic tranquility: To make sure we can all have a nice life and get along with one another.”

Also serving as the illustrator, Catrow uses kids, as well as a dog, to illustrate the phrases. Catrow explains at the beginning of the book that the dog’s motions and gestures represent the phrases on each page. The pictures are beautifully hand drawn and exhibit exactly what kids would think of according to the definitions. It is a colorful book, with lots of diversity, fun images, and a cartoon feel that makes U.S. history seem more real and interesting than “an old, brown crackly-looking thing with curly handwriting that’s almost impossible to read,” according to Catrow.

Curriculum Connections
We the Kids is a great source for learning about the preamble to the United States Constitution. It is a great introduction to the Constitution in general or any other ancient document that students may learn about (Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, etc.). It is a great introduction to the learning of government and primary sources vs. secondary sources. In Virginia this book coincides with SOLs CE.1, CE.2, CE.3, USI.1, and CE.1.

Additional Resources

• The American Revolution is a great site that includes activities and quizzes through every step of the Revolutionary War, including the meetings of the Continental Congress and the construction of the American flag.

• We the Kids is a site that includes a video about the preamble to the Constitution, activities for pre- and post-viewing as well as questions and objectives in learning about the preamble.

• Constitution Day has a list of books, movies, and interesting facts for all ages about the Constitution for September 17 (which is Constitution Day).

Book:We the Kids
Author/Illustrator: David Catrow
Publisher: Dial
Publication Date: 2002
Pages: 32 pages
Grades: K-5
ISBN: 0803725531

The book If I Were President, written by Catherine Stier and illustrated by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan, explains the daily activities and responsibilities of our country’s leader and is told from the point-of-view of six young children who are imagining that they have been elected President.

Each page starts off “If I were president…” and then provides readers with lots of information about the president, including where the president lives, who helps him (or possibly her) make decisions, how he travels, who protects him, and some of the powers and responsibilities given to the president. In addition to describing government-related activities, such as signing bills to make laws, being in charge of the armed forces, and meeting with leaders of other nations, the story also includes several fun, less-known tasks done by the president:

If I were president, in the spring I’d toss the first pitch of the baseball season, and in winter I’d light the nation’s holiday tree. If I were president, my words and picture would appear in newspapers and magazines all over the world. Even my dog would make the headlines!

Towards the end of the story, Stier explains that each president can only be elected twice, for a total of eight years and then mentions several ways that past presidents are honored and remembered. She provides a description of the Lincoln Memorial and Mount Rushmore, as well as a picture of our country’s money, showing Abraham Lincoln on the penny, Thomas Jefferson on the nickel, and George Washington on the dollar bill.

The final page shows a young boy who has fallen asleep in his room with an American flag above his bed and a sketch of the capitol building laying on his floor. He is dreaming that someday he just might be president of the United States. This ending, along with the following sentence from the introductory page, encourage readers to dream big, telling them that they too could become president:

Perhaps someday you may choose – and be chosen – to take on this very important job.

Curriculum Connections
If I Were President would be an excellent book to use as part of a civics lesson related to the role of the president or the US government in general. This book provides lots of information about our nation’s leader in a way that is easy for children to understand and relate to. It is simple enough to be read to Kindergartners but could also be used as a fun way to begin or end a 2nd or 3rd grade lesson about the president. After reading the story, students could write about they would do if they were President and create a class book about what each person would do as president.

In Virginia, this book relates to social studies SOLs K.9, 2.11, and 3.11 which state that students will know that the President is the leader of the United States, identify George Washington and Abraham Lincoln as Americans whose contributions improved the lives of other Americans, and recognize the importance of government in the United States. It would also be a great book to read while learning about Presidents’ Day (SOL K.1b and 1.3).

Additional Resources

• This Scholastic “If I Were President” webpage includes 12 creative activities related to the role of the president and the accomplishments of past presidents. The activities are designed for a variety of grade levels and include creating paper bag flags, holding an inauguration day ceremony, decorating a bulletin board with a “White House Menagerie” of presidential pets, and making White House books showing all of the rooms in the president’s home.
• Here is a link to an interactive, online “President for a Day” activity that allows students to find out what a day in the life of the president is like.
• Take your students on a virtual tour of the White House guided by Spotty the dog.

Book: If I Were President
Author: Catherine Stier
Illustrator: DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Publication Date: 1999
Pages: 32 pages
Grades: K-3
ISBN: 0-8075-3541-9