Resource Guide

Heather Darby
Section 1: Childrens literature at various reading levels that fit the GLCEs for the
grade level or course.

1st Grade: Family Pictures

Author: Carmen Lomas Garza
Lexile Measure: AD790L
GLCE: 1 G4.0.1 Use components of culture (e.g., foods, language,
religion,
traditions) to describe diversity in family life.
Link of purchase: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/familypictures-0#cart/cleanup

2nd Grade: The Magic School Bus Gets Recycled

Author: Anne Capeci
Lexile Measure: 370L
GLCE: 2 G5.0.1 Suggest ways people can responsibly interact with the

environment in the local community.

Link to purchase:
http://www.scholastic.com/ups/booklists/5136492c97e31a4da847ff03#cart/cle
anup
3rd Grade: Michigan Native Americans
Author: Carole Marsh
GLE:
Lexile Measure:
GLCE:
Link to purchase:
https://play.google.com/store/books/details?
id=qOjLXM3ZR1EC&source=productsearch&utm_source=HA_Desktop_US&utm_mediu
m=SEM&utm_campaign=PLA&pcampaignid=MKTAD0930BO1&gclid=CKnDszD29ACFWsxMgodNeMNig&gclsrc=ds

4th Grade: The Amazing Impossible Erie Canal

Author: Cheryle Harness
GLE:
Lexile Measure: AD1050L
GLCE:4 G1.0.5 Use maps to describe elevation, climate, and patterns
of population density in the United States.

Link to purchase:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&fieldkeywords=The+Amazing+Impossible+Erie+Canal&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck
%3AThe+Amazing+Impossible+Erie+Canal

5th Grade: A Braid of Lives: Native American Childhood

Author: Philip Neil
GLE:
Lexile Measure: grades 4-8
GLCE: 5 U1.1.2 Compare how American Indians in the desert
Southwest and
the Pacific Northwest adapted to or modi ed the environment.
5 U1.1.3 Describe Eastern Woodland American Indian
life with respect to
governmental and family structures, trade, and views on property
ownership
and land use.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Braid-Lives-Native-AmericanChildhood/dp/039564528X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480890967&sr=81&keywords=A+braid+of+lives+%3A+Native+American+childhood

6th Grade: Awesome Ancient Ancestors!: Mound Builders, Maya and More
Author: Elizabeth Levy
GLE:
Lexile Measure: 990L
GLCE: 6 W3.1.3 Describe similarities and difference among Mayan,

Aztec,
and Incan societies, including economy, religion, and role and class
structure.
Link to purchase:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/awesome-ancientancestors#cart/cleanup
Section 2: NonFiction books at various reading levels that fit the GLCEs for the
grade level or course

1st Grade: Martin Luther King Jr.

Author: Pam Walker
Lexile Measure: 450L
GLCE: 1 H2.0.7 Identify the events or people celebrated during United
States national holidays and why we celebrate them (e.g., Independence
Day, Constitution Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Presidents Day).

Link to purchase: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/martin-lutherking-jr-1#cart/cleanup

2nd Grade: Extraordinary Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Author: Susan Sinnott
Lexile Measure: Reading level 6th grade
GLCE: 2 G4.0.3 Use components of culture (e.g., foods, language,
religion, traditions) to describe diversity in the local community.

Link to purchase: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/extraordinaryasian-americans-and-pacific-islanders#cart/cleanup

3rd Grade: Michigan
Author: Dennis Fradin
Lexile Measure: 730L
GLCE: 3 H3.0.9 Describe how Michigan attained statehood.
3 H3.0.10 Create a timeline to sequence early Michigan history
(American Indians, exploration, settlement, statehood)
Link to purchase: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/michigan1#cart/cleanup

4th Grade: My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States

Author: Lee Hopkins
Lexile Measure: reading level 4-5th grade
GLCE: 4 G2.0.1 Describe ways in which the United States can be
divided into different regions (e.g., political regions, economic regions,
landform regions, vegetation regions).
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/My-America-Poetry-UnitedStates/dp/0689812477/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480999031&sr=81&keywords=My+America%3A+A+Poetry+Atlas+of+the+United+States

5th Grade: The Black Soldier: 1492 to the Present

Author: Catherine Clinton
Lexile Measure: grade level: 5th grade
GLCE: 5 U2.2.2 Describe the life of enslaved Africans and free Africans
in the American colonies. (National Geography Standard 5, p. 152)

Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Soldier-1492Present/dp/039567722X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480999621&sr=81&keywords=The+Black+Soldier%3A+1492+to+the+Present

6th Grade: The Fall of the Berlin Wall: The Cold War Ends
Author: Nigel Kelly
Lexile Measure: grade level-6th grade
GLCE: 6 C3.6.2 Compare and contrast a military dictatorship such as
Cuba, a
presidential system of representative democracy such as the United
States, and
a parliamentary system of representative democracy such as Canada.

Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Fall-Berlin-Wall-HistoryUnification/dp/1508721327/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480999959&sr=81&keywords=The+Fall+of+the+Berlin+Wall%3A+The+Cold+War+Ends

Section 3: Links to websites that have more resources that fit the GLCEs for the grade
level or course.
3rd grade: Michigan Kids
Summary: This is a website that contains historical, geographical, civic and economical,
and agricultural components of the State of Michigan. The different information is
provided in a links that are on tabs on the side of the screen.
Pros and cons: Pros: lots of information, covers multiple GLCEs Cons: not super
colorful/child friendly
Useful tips/activities/ideas: This talk about the government of Michigan, a useful activity
would be to have students find out how a bill becomes a law and actually come up with a
proposal and send it out.
Ducksters.com/MichiganStateHistory
Summary: This is a great educational resource! This provides history of Michigan
beginning with the Native Americans and covering major cultural groups as well as
significant events that took place. It also includes a timeline at the bottom of the website.
Pros and Cons: Pros: information is very kid friendly and grade level appropriate Con:
didn't cover over areas such as geography and government.
Useful tips/activities/ideas: There is a timeline located at the bottom of every page, so
student can build their own timeline in their classroom as they learn about each of the
important events in Michigans history.
Michigan History for Kids
Summary: This is a website that talks about the different historical events, people and
places in Michigan. It is a useful tool for various grades because of the link to the
different historical events in America that took place in Michigan
Pros and Cons: Pro: lots of useful information Con: not super kid friendly, not grade
level appropriate
Useful tips/activities/ideas: Detroit and Henry Ford are mentioned on this website,
therefore a field trip could be planned to Greenfield Village to see and learn about the
automobile industry.
Section 4: Links to lessons, activities, blogs or units that fit the GLCEs for the grade
level or course.
3rd Grade:
http://www.weareteachers.com/6-ways-to-make-civics-learning-come-alive-2/
Pros: This has so many different ideas for activities and lesson plans, authentic
assessment, fits the GLCEs, provide links for activities
Cons: This only covers one section of the GLCEs which is government
http://www.weareteachers.com/the-teacher-report-teaching-fact-vs-opinion-at-everygrade-level-2/
Pros: touches on a serious issue in teaching in American Schools that is very
controversial, talks about differentiating between a fact and opinion in schools, talks
about the importance of persuasive writing in school
Cons: Does not talk much about third Grade, only covers two important suggestions
http://www.weareteachers.com/11-activities-that-teach-the-presidential-election-process/
Pros: This provides various activities that can teach students about voting rights
Gets students interested and engaged in a cause they care about
Authentic assessment
Cons: Some of the activities give no information on how to conduct them. Just the idea
behind them.
Some activities are not authentic at all.