Social Studies: Grade 6

Aboriginal Elders and Community Workers in Schools: A Guide for School Divisions and Their Partners (Print-Non-Fiction). Saskatchewan Education (SSR), 2001. 52 p. ISBN 1-894116-58-5 ($FREE pbk.).

(I/M, SK) The inclusion of elders and other aboriginal resource people in the school program is a beneficial component to many curricula. This resource will help to facilitate that process. Background information is provided about the benefits of involving elders, the traditional role of an aboriginal elder and some of the traditional ceremonies. The majority of the resource stresses the importance of creating a policy to facilitate the program and gives several examples of policies from school divisions. This resource was distributed to all schools in 2001, but additional copies are available from the Planning, Evaluation and Children's Services Branch of Saskatchewan Learning.
Suggested Use: Teacher Reference
Other Use: Canadian Studies; Forestry Studies; Social Studies: Elementary Level; Social Studies: Grades 7-9; Social Studies 10/History 10; Social Studies 20/History 20; Wildlife Management


Discovering the Human World (Print-Non-Fiction). Hannell, Christine and Dunlop, Stewart. Oxford University Press (OUP), 2000. 274 p. ISBN 0-19-541344-X ($47.44 hdc.).

(CAN) While written for a human geography course in Ontario, this book does have some excellent uses within several of our social studies curricula. The three main areas of study are settlement and population patterns, economic systems and human movement. There is an emphasis on learning geographic skills as the interpretation of maps, charts and graphs is an essential component of most chapters. Although the layout will appeal to the Middle Level student, the unit on economic systems is applicable to Grade 10 social studies. The book is well illustrated with colour and black-and-white photographs. An index and a glossary are included.
Suggested Use: Identity; Interdependence; Location
Other Use: Social Studies: Grades 7-9; Social Studies 10/History 10


Discovering the Physical World (Print-Non-Fiction). Hannell, Christine and Dunlop, Stewart. Oxford University Press (OUP), 2000. 276 p. ISBN 0-19-541313-X ($47.44 hdc.).

(CAN) Similar to other recent resources in the social sciences, this book has also been written for the Ontario market. For teachers in Saskatchewan, however, this book is ideally suited to a Resource-based Learning approach to several units within the social sciences curricula. The book provides basic background to what physical geography is and then discusses the physical patterns and resources. An excellent selection of maps, photographs, charts and graphs is used to supplement the easily read text. Student activities for further study and web links are provided throughout the book. An index and a glossary are included.
Suggested Use: Location
Other Use: Social Studies: Grades 7-9


Dorling Kindersley Children's Atlas. Rev. & updated ed. (Print-Non-Fiction). DK Publishing, Inc. (CDS), 2000. 176 p. ISBN 0-7894-5845-4 ($29.95 hdc.).

This is the type of atlas that encourages students to browse and seek information. Not only are there geographical maps of all the regions and countries of the world, but each map also contains many interesting facts via colour photographs, drawings and charts. This additional material provides background information on culture, history and the economy. The book has several positive features: the layout is pleasing to the eye, the information is written in a concise manner, and it encourages further exploration. There is, however, an emphasis on the United States. An index and a glossary are included.
Suggested Use: Interaction; Location
Other Use: Social Studies: Grades 7-9


Encarta Interactive World Atlas 2001 (CD-ROM). Microsoft Corporation (MICC), 2000. ISBN 0-7356-0172-0 ($23.00).

Within this CD Atlas are detailed maps, articles with cultural information, statistics used in comparisons, and geography quizzes at various levels. Video and audio clips are used to present this information. The "researcher" allows students to collect information from the atlas and organize it into reports. This is an excellent resource for several grade levels.
Suggested Use: General; Teacher Reference
Other Use: Social Studies: Grades 7-9


Global Citizens (Print-Non-Fiction). Sterling, Sharon and Powrie, Steve. (Outlooks Series). Oxford University Press (LRDC), 2001.
220 p. Order no. 5420 ($37.45 hdc.).

(CAN) Although this resource was written specifically for the Grade 6 Social Studies Curriculum in British Columbia, parts of it can be applied to our Grade 6 through 8 curricula. Canada and several Pacific Rim countries are used to illustrate the concepts of identity, culture, interaction, interdependence, resources, power, citizenship and change. Colour photographs, maps, charts, activities and "how to" boxes all contribute to creating a very accessible resource. An index is provided.
Suggested Use: Interdependence
Other Use: Social Studies: Grades 7-9


Historical Atlas of Exploration, 1492-1600 (Print-Non-Fiction). Konstam, Angus. Facts On File, Inc. (LRDC), 2000. 191 p. Order no. 4098 ($55.05 hdc.).

The title for this book may be a little misleading. While there are some maps, the bulk of the book contains many excellent photographs, paintings, drawings and biographies of the key explorers of the time. In addition to the biographies, there are separate chapters dealing with topics such as pre-Columbian cultures, India in 1498, navigation in the Age of Discovery and the Inca Empire. The layout of the book will appeal to students and encourage browsing and further research. This is an excellent resource that will encourage a student's sense of wonder and enquiry into the events, good and bad, which occurred during this time. An index is included.
Suggested Use: Interaction
Other Use: Social Studies: Grades 7-9


The Lands, Peoples, and Cultures Series (Print-Non-Fiction). Kalman, Bobbie. Crabtree Publishing Company (CRA), 32 p. Order numbers follow. ($19.16 hdc.). Order numbers follow. ($8.96 pbk.).

Newly recommended titles in this series include the following:

Argentina: The Culture	ISBN 0-86505-246-1 hdc.
Argentina: The Culture	ISBN 0-86505-326-X pbk.
Argentina: The Land	ISBN 0-86505-244-1 hdc.
Argentina: The Land	ISBN 0-86505-324-3 pbk.
Argentina: The People	ISBN 0-86505-245-X hdc.
Argentina: The People	ISBN 0-86505-325-1 pbk.
France: The Culture	ISBN 0-86505-243-3 hdc.
France: The Culture	ISBN 0-86505-323-5 pbk.
France: The Land	ISBN 0-86505-241-7 hdc.
France:The Land	ISBN 0-86505-321-9 pbk.
France: The People	ISBN 0-86505-242-5 hdc.
France: The People	ISBN 0-86505-322-7 pbk.
Germany: The Culture	ISBN 0-7787-9374-5 hdc.
Germany: The Culture	ISBN 0-7787-9742-2 pbk.
Germany: The Land	ISBN 0-7787-9372-9 hdc.
Germany: The Land	ISBN 0-7787-9740-6 pbk.
Germany: The People	ISBN 0-7787-9373-7 hdc.
Germany: The People	ISBN 0-7787-9741-4 pbk.
Italy: The Culture	ISBN 0-7787-9371-0 hdc.
Italy: The Culture	ISBN 0-7787-9739-2 pbk.
Italy: The Land	ISBN 0-7787-9369-9 hdc.
Italy: The Land	ISBN 0-7787-9737-6 pbk.
Italy: The People	ISBN 0-7787-9370-2 hdc.
Italy: The People	ISBN 0-7787-9738-4 pbk.
Nigeria: The Culture	ISBN 0-86505-249-2 hdc.
Nigeria: The Culture	ISBN 0-86505-329-4 pbk.
Nigeria: The Land	ISBN 0-86505-247-6 hdc.
Nigeria: The Land	ISBN 0-86505-327-8 pbk.
Nigeria: The People	ISBN 0-86505-248-4 hdc.
Nigeria: The People	ISBN 0-86505-328-6 pbk.
Russia: The Culture	ISBN 0-86505-240-9 hdc.
Russia: The Culture	ISBN 0-86505-320-0 pbk.
Russia: The Land	ISBN 0-86505-238-7 hdc.
Russia: The Land	ISBN 0-86505-318-9 pbk.
Russia: The People	ISBN 0-86505-239-5 hdc.
Russia: The People	ISBN 0-86505-319-7 pbk.

(CAN) Using an easy-to-read text and supplemented by large numbers of colour photographs, this series presents an excellent overview of several countries. Each of the books takes an objective look at the people when they are at school, work, playing sports or relaxing at home. Both the city and the countryside are covered in these volumes. When the land is examined, individual chapters deal with the physical environment, cities, industry, agriculture and transportation. As would be expected, the resources dealing with culture look at everything from religion and holidays to clothing, music, art and literature. This is an ideal resource for students who may need a less demanding source of information. An index and a glossary are included in each title.
Suggested Use: Identity; Interaction
Other Use: Social Studies: Grades 7-9


Making Maps (Video). Classroom Video (MGR), 1992. 19 min. Dup. order no. V519. Teacher's Guide - Order no. G519 ($0.50 loose-leaf).

This program demonstrates how to draw simple maps to represent a model or the local area. It explains the use of symbols and how to apply a scale to measure distances. Locating points can be accomplished by using a compass or grid references. The relationship between contour lines and slope is explained in practice demonstrations.

A teacher's guide is available from Media Group.
Suggested Use: Location
Other Use: Mathematics: Elementary Level; Social Studies: Grades 7-9


A Survey of World Cultures Series (Print-Non-Fiction). American Guidance Service (PSY), 2001. pgn. varies. Order numbers follow. ($25.00 pbk.).

Recommended titles in this series include the following:

Africa	ISBN 0-7854-2627-2
Asia and the Middle East	ISBN 0-7854-2625-6
Europe	ISBN 0-7854-2633-7
Latin America	ISBN 0-7854-2631-0
Russia and the Former Soviet Republics	ISBN 0-7854-2635-3
United States and Canada	ISBN 0-7854-2629-9.

Each of the titles in this series presents an overview of the people and their culture. Topics include background information on the geography and history and individual chapters on the people, agriculture, urbanization, religion, education and the arts. Map skills, critical thinking skills and questions for review are included throughout each book. The text is easy to read with several maps used to highlight the countries and regions. Black-and-white photographs are also included. The American origin of this series is evident in most titles and teachers will need to supplement the American examples with Canadian information. An index and a glossary are included in each title.
Suggested Use: Interaction; Location
Other Use: Social Studies: Grades 7-9


Tales of the Amazon: How the Munduruku Aboriginals Live (Print-Non-Fiction). Munduruku, Daniel, Springer, Jane, translator and Laurabeatriz, illus. Groundwood Books (GDS), 2000. 56 p. ISBN 0-88899-392-7 ($18.95 hdc.).

(CAN) The first part of this resource provides the story of a young boy growing up as a member of the Munduruku group in the Amazon. The beautiful full-page illustrations add to the story of the life and culture of the people. The second section provides basic factual information about the Inuit peoples of Brazil, in particular the Munduruku. While Grade 3 students will enjoy the story, students at the Grade 6 and 8 levels will benefit from the description of the culture. An index is provided.
Suggested Use: Identity; Interaction
Other Use: Social Studies: Elementary Level; Social Studies: Grades 7-9


We Came to North America Series (Print-Non-Fiction). Crabtree Publishing Company (CRA), 2000. 32 p. Order numbers follow. ($19.16 hdc.).

Recommended titles in this series include the following:

The Africans	ISBN 0-7787-0184-0
The Chinese	ISBN 0-7787-0188-3
The French	ISBN 0-7787-0185-9
The Hispanics	ISBN 0-7787-0186-7
The Italians	ISBN 0-7787-0189-1
The Jews	ISBN 0-7787-0187-5.

Each of these short books presents a brief history of the people and why they would immigrate to North America. A description of their culture is provided with a discussion of how they adapted their traditional ways to the realities of Canada and the United States. While the series is an American publication, there is enough mention of Canada to recommend it. The easy-to-read text and the many illustrations make the resource suitable for several grade levels. An index and a glossary are included in each title.
Suggested Use: Identity; Interaction
Other Use: Social Studies: Elementary Level; Social Studies: Grades 7-9


The World in Maps Series (Print-Non-Fiction). Bramwell, Martyn. Lerner Publications (FHW), 2000. Order numbers follow. ($39.95 hdc.).

Recommended titles in this series include the following:

Africa	ISBN 0-8225-2914-9
Central and South America	ISBN 0-8225-2912-2
Europe	ISBN 0-8225-2913-0
North America and the Caribbean	ISBN 0-8225-2911-4
Northern and Western	Asia ISBN 0-8225-2915-7
Southern and Eastern	Asia ISBN 0-8225-2916-5.

Within each book of this series, individual countries are given a one or two-page spread that includes a map and a discussion about its geography, economy and history. Each of the books offers a thumbnail sketch, but it is very effective in presenting a brief overview of a country. The text is easy to read and the full-colour maps are appealing. Colour photographs are used to supplement the text. An index and a glossary are included.
Suggested Use: Location
Other Use: Social Studies: Grades 7-9