Jenna Lohwasser
EDU 295
March 3, 2008
Professional Resource Project: Part 2
Introduction:
The second part of the Professional Resource Project was designed to build a
library of children’s literature resources for our own classrooms. I have researched many
books that are related to social studies in the areas of government, economics, and
history. Also, I have included children’s books that build character development and
help students gain a respect for the diversity that surrounds us. This book list will be a
great resource in a classroom as I have provided titles, authors, summaries, applications,
and cover pictures for each book which can help any teacher use these books to build
upon their lessons. Literature is a very important thing to have in any classroom because
it is engaging to students and can provide better understanding of the materials studied.
Literature that can be used in Social Studies is able to broaden a student’s
horizons into cultures other than their own. I want to explain how each category is
important to the subject of Social Studies and how we as teachers can use these books in
our own classrooms to teach valuable lessons. Books that are centered on Holidays and
Traditions can help students understand the range of diversity through each culture. Each
of these books gives an insight into the values and beliefs of world religions. Students
can share something about their own traditions and their importance while learning how
to respect those of others.
The Political Science/Government books I chose give students an insight into how
our government runs. They can learn about what is in our constitution and why the
Founding Fathers included these things. They will also help students understand what a
President’s role is in a democracy. United States History is a very important topic for
students to understand. Therefore, the books I chose in this category allow students to
explore our country’s history and learn about the great people that have influenced
society. They also allow students to imagine what life was like many years ago when our
country was founded and times when the people of our nation showed the greatest
courage. World History is also an important topic which is why I chose books that
focused on two of the most influential time periods in history.
Character Development is an area that we want all of our students to master.
Thus, when choosing this set of literature, I looked for books that help students learn
valuable life lessons in ways that they can relate to their own lives. They provide insight
into many traits that we hope will develop their character so that they can learn the
importance of respect, responsibility, and diversity. Geography is also a very important
area that I researched because these books help students learn how to visualize the world
around them in many different ways. They each provide maps that show them basic
features and multiple ways to map their own world. Since we live in North Carolina, it is
important that our students are aware of North Carolina’s culture, history, and geography.
They list important state facts and tell stories of what life was like in North Carolina
during times hardship. Lastly, they stress the important contributions that the state has
