Childrens Social Studies

Why are so many old things buried in the ground—and who finds them?

How do Americans know that government papers are real? If you see an eagle holding a shield, and a pyramid with an eye above it, the papers are no fakes. Listen to Benjamin Franklin as he talks about the birth of the Great Seal in 1782 and why it's still so important to our country today.

How does the president get his job? How do people know who will win an election before everybody’s voted? Do the candidates hate each other? Dan Gutman takes on his strangest subject ever: the American political system. Reaching through history from the days of the founding fathers to today’s voting system, Gutman tackles complex subjects in a clear, easy-to-understand way. Even grown-ups will find something in here that they’ve never learned before.

Come along on a visit to the library, and learn about some of things a patron can do in the library such as performing research and using the computer, along with checking out books.

Jonathan Kozol's books have become touchstones of the American conscience. Unlike his previous books, however, Ordinary Resurrections is almost entirely narrative and takes us into the fascinating details of daily life as he has lived it with young children who befriended him over the course of several years. Like Amazing Grace, this book describes the children of New York's South Bronx, but it is a markedly different book in mood and vantage point.

An introduction to the important job of mail carriers. Learn about what a mail carrier does, how their mail truck works, and how the mail must get delivered no matter what the situation. Give young citizens a glimpse into the lives of these valuable workers and how their careers make communities a better place to live.

In her new book, Cathy Glass, the number one best-selling author of Damaged, tells the story of the Alice, a young and vulnerable girl who is desperate to return home to her mother. Alice, aged four, is snatched by her mother the day she is due to arrive at Cathy's house. Drug-dependent and mentally ill, but desperate to keep hold of her daughter, Alice's mother snatches her from her parents' house and disappears.

Screenwise offers a realistic and optimistic perspective on how to thoughtfully guide kids in the digital age. Many parents feel that their kids are addicted, detached, or distracted because of their digital devices. Using the foundation of their own values and experiences, parents and educators can learn about the digital world to help set kids up for success in a world fueled by technology.

Las infancias son libres. Deben serlo. En esta serie volvemos a ser niñes gracias a ensayos escritos con las manos, pero también con el corazón, tomando la ternura radical como fuerza erradicadora del adultocentrismo. En infancias libres hacemos dos manifiestos por les niñes, honramos a las infancias diversas, a aquellas que injustamente han perdido su libertad; pero también, a las infancias que crecieron, como muchxs de nosotrxs, lastimadxs. Así, formulamos un diccionario de la no violencia para por fin dar a les niñes el lugar que merecen.

Fleeing East from Nazi terror, over a million Polish Jews traversed the Soviet Union, many finding refuge in Muslim lands. Their story - the extraordinary saga of two thirds of Polish Jewish survivors - has never been fully told. Author Mikhal Dekel's father, Hannan Teitel, and her aunt Regina were two of these refugees. After they fled the town in eastern Poland where their family had been successful brewers for centuries, they endured extreme suffering in the Soviet forced labor camps known as "special settlements".

Come along on a visit to the police station, including descriptions of the things and people found there.

A word-of-mouth best seller which has become one of the best loved and most successful books in the parenting field. With around 20 percent new material, Steve Biddulph’s Raising Boys is to be rereleased this month with some startling new research on what helps - and what harms - boys.

Firefighter Greg has a physical job to do so he stays strong and fit. He gets up early in the morning and sleeps where he works. Did you know that Firefighter Greg practices putting on his safety gear–in less than one minute? Or that his gear–helmet, facemask, air pack, boots and jacket–weighs 75 pounds? Find out how firefighters practice putting out fires in a training tower!

Visit the farm, including descriptions of the things, people, and animals found there.

George Washington knew he was setting an example in everything he did. The first American president had been a heroic military commander during the Revolutionary War, leading his forces to victory. As president he would guide the citizens of a new republic with a strong central government. No more would each state make its own decisions. Instead, they would band together, with the beloved Washington leading the way. It was up to him not to abuse the power of his mighty position.

Do you know how many justices serve on the Supreme Court? Do you know how cases are decided? Find out the answers in The US Supreme Court.

Firefighters keep us safe from fire. Learn about a firefighter's tools, workplace, and role in the community.

If I were a firefighter, I would rush into burning buildings to rescue people. I would blast flames with water and foam. Dream big, and see what fun it is to be a firefighter!

A true crime thriller - the first book for teens to tell the nearly unknown tale of the brazen attempt to steal Abraham Lincoln's body! The action begins in October of 1875, as Secret Service agents raid the workshop of master counterfeiter Ben Boyd. Soon after Boyd is arrested, members of his counterfeiting ring gather to discuss how to spring their ringleader. Their plan: grab Lincoln's body from its Springfield tomb, stash it in the sand dunes near Lake Michigan, and demand, as a ransom, the release of Ben Boyd - and $200,000 in cash.

How did the colonists of Jamestown and Maryland live and die? Forensic anthropology provides an incredible array of answers. Scientists can look into a grave and determine the skeleton's gender, age at time of death, nationality, and sometimes even economic standing within minutes. Laboratory studies can provide cause of death information.