Supplemental Budget Preparation
Tim Coudret ED 639 Dr. Helms October 4, 2002 The following items are supplemental social studies materials that will be valuable to me as I teach social studies at the high school level. I strongly recommend their purchase.
Video Tapes
1) Early Colonists $155.00
This two VHS tape set visits locations such as Jamestown and attempts to impart the daily struggle of the early colonists. Although it is made for grades 6 through 9, I think that older students need a reminder of the harsh life of colonial North America. Also included are a teachers guide with scripts and suggested activities.
2) Why Bother Voting? $69.95
This 57-minute VHS tape stresses the importance of voting, especially for young people. It attempts to intermingle humor, celebrities, and dynamic graphics to explain the mechanics and value o voting. This video is intended for grades 9 and up.
3) The Opening of the American West $155.00
This two part video series follows the westward expansion of the United States following the Lewis and Clark exploration. The first video concentrates on the establishment of the fur trade and of towns and the infringement of Europeans on Native American life. The second video explores the arduous Oregon Trail and the day-to-day travails of its trek.
4) The Greatest Generation $14.95
This video, which is based on the book of the same name by Tom Brokaw, chronicles the generation of Americans who sacrificed so much during WWII and then rebuilt America into a superpower following the war. It is vital for students to understand why a generation raised during the depression would sacrifice everything for a country that had until then, failed them.
5) The Holocaust: Through Our Own Eyes $35.00
This 35-minute documentary shows the tragedy of the Holocaust with first hand accounts form survivors and concentration camp liberators. This video shows the evil of ethnic persecution and can still be, unfortunately, studied in current events. Suggested activities, resources and related articles are also included.
Enrichment Books
1) The Way People Live: U.S. History $219.56
This set of eleven hardbacks bridges the distance between the student and the subject. Recommended for grades six through twelve, this valuable asset provides anecdotal and archival examples of life in America from the colonial period to the depression and the Jim Crow Laws. 2) Us and Them: A History of Intolerance in America $8.95
This book chronicles the reoccurring patterns of hate and/or ignorance in America’s past and in its present. Fourteen individual narratives are in this important teaching tool, from the Trail of Tears to the lynchings in the South and the WWII Japanese internment camps. Students need to understand that America does not always meet its ideals. This text will aid in helping students explore and open their eyes to some of America’s sullied past. This would be a great debate starter.
Computer Programs
1) Mapmaker’s Toolkit $199.95
This program should be mandatory in every social studies classroom. Teachers (and students) can tailor over 450 current and historical maps to their specific needs. Specific regions can be denoted for crops, industry, weather, and etc. by customized use of shading, borders, text and more.
2) Oregon Trail 4 $165.95
Students will be able to develop problem solving skills as they assume the role of one of many social types heading West after the Civil War until the 1890’s. The students must wisely choose the route, their travel companions, when to leave and then tackle many obstacles along the way. Included in this package are maps, references and teaching guides with lesson plans.
Games and Simulations
1) The Great Crash Stock Market Game $20.00
This game allows students to become investors in the late 1920’s and the early 1930’s so that students can experience the highs and the lows of the stock market. Students make decisions and are heavily involved in the game. This is suitable for grades 7 through 12 and between 2 players and the whole class can play.
2) World History Challenge $17.95
This game has questions from 50 different topics. Each topic is then subdivided into four categories with at least 20 questions. There are over 4000 different questions. This would be a great tool for those Fridays before a long break when the students have trouble maintaining concentration. This game provides an opportunity for students to still learn and apply their knowledge without them thinking that they did. Teaching and Learning Supplemental Books
1) 10,000 Ideas for Term Papers, Projects, Reports and Speeches $14.95
This 448-page book is a Godsend for teachers and students who have trouble coming up with ideas for projects and papers. Students would certainly benefit from having some fresh ideas for projects. Teachers would benefit because they will no longer have to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to come up with grade appropriate topics because the ideas are color coded to indicate level of difficulty.
2) Discipline Survival Kit for the Secondary Teacher $29.95
The authors of this book seek to provide time tested, effective methods that teachers can use to create an environment of learning and good conduct. This is a necessary resource for all first year teachers.
Learning Activities
1) African-American Heroes of the Civil War $18.95
There is a need for all students to be able to see an image of themselves in the past if they are going to be interested in History. Too often, though, minorities fail to see their reflection in history texts. That is why activities, such as this, are important. This activity book focuses on the ignored heroes of the Civil War with a short biography, review questions and a map activity for each of the six people profiled.
2) Cram United States History Maps $450.00
This is another must have for all social studies classrooms, especially American History. This set has 19 individual maps that chart U.S. history from the early Spanish explorers to the present day agricultural and railway patterns. Students must be able to visualize places and spatial orientations to learn most effectively.
3) Key Decisions in U.S. History $ 32.95
This activity book provides students with vignettes of situations during crucial times in U.S. history. They are to plan a course of action and explain why. Situations range from the early Iroquois Confederation to the present day questions of gun control. This is a thought stimulating activity.
Total Budget: $1609.06