A Window into History: Family Memory in Children's Literature [Paperback]

Eleanor Kay MacDonald (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0897748794 | ISBN-13: 978-0897748797 | Publication Date: December 4, 1995 | Edition: annotated edition

This is an excellent resource for objectives-based education. Because the foundation of the social studies curriculum is the family, A Window into History gives teachers an engaging method for introducing students to books that are structured as personal narratives of family histories. These books, both fiction and nonfiction, combined with highly appropriate activities and projects, build themes around community, history, and cultural or social differences. In addition, the variety of cultural backgrounds in the titles makes A Window into History especially valuable in programs that emphasize multicultural issues. Recommended teacher resource for grades 3-8.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

MacDonald presents a two-pronged method of having children learn about history. She offers an annotated bibliography of children's literature built around themes and then suggests activities and special projects to complement them. Among the themes are the immigrant experience; the frontier experience; growing up in cities, suburbs, and the country; families during World War II; and passing on family traditions. The books, for the most part, are well chosen, and the activities themselves are appealing if not always terribly imaginative. They range from making corn dolls to interviewing older people about what life was like when they were children. A convenient volume to have on hand and one that teachers will find many uses for. Ilene Cooper

Review

“As a guide to more than 200 titles connecting young people with memories in a variety of locations in the world and a range of time periods, this work is a useful addition to the collection.”–Emergency Librarian

“MacDonald presents a two-pronged method of having children learn about history. She offers an annotated bibliography of children's literature built around themes and then suggests activities and special projects to complement them. ...The books, for the most part, are well chosen, and the activities themselves are appealing if not always terribly imaginative. They range from making corn dolls to interviewing older people about what life was like when they were children. A convenient volume to have on hand and one that teachers will find many uses for.”–Booklist

“...valuable for helping develop collections and build theme units on a variety of historical topics....titles are historically accurate....Annontations are lengthy, well-written, and informative, addressing both content and style....well-done volume.”–School Library Journal

“Equipped with an excellent index, the book is aimed at teachers and librarians involved in local/family history work in primary or secondary schools.”–School Library Association

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Oryx Press; annotated edition edition (December 4, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897748794
• ISBN-13: 978-0897748797
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,976,285 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent teacher and librarian resource!, September 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Window into History: Family Memory in Children's Literature (Paperback)

This is a useful resource for teachers and librarians filling assignments for autobiography, historical works, learning about an era, and books in diary or journal form. Easy to use, the annotations are entertaining and the indexes are most useful.