Special Collections
District List: NYC Core Curriculum 7th - Social Studies
Description: The New York City Core Curriculum program aims to provide a high-quality curricula to NYC students through a seamless instructional program across grades and subjects. This list has been curated by #NYCDOE for 7th Grade Social Studies materials.
- Table View
- List View
Fourth Amendment
by Dean GalianoThe Fourth Amendment states that American citizens have the right to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and belongings against unreasonable searches and seizures. This was not always the case. The Founders had to overcome great obstacles-fighting for American independence and ratifying the Constitution and the Bill of Rights-to provide these rights.
This book outlines that arduous journey, and then focuses on the Fourth Amendment's impact on modern American life and the role of the Supreme Court in safeguarding those protections. Sidebars highlight the amendment in action and zero in on the details of Supreme Court cases. It concludes with an examination of the impact of technological advances on our privacy and features a list of all the Amendments to the Constitution, including those proposed, but unratified.
From Colonies to Country
by Joy HakimHow did compliant colonials with strong ties to Europe get the notion to become an independent nation? Perhaps the seeds of liberty were planted in the 1735 historic courtroom battle for the freedom of the press. Or maybe the French and Indian War did it, when colonists were called "Americans" for the first time by the English, and the great English army proved itself not so formidable after all. But for sure when King George III started levying some heavy handed taxes on the colonies, the break from the motherland was imminent. With such enthralling characters as George Washington, Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, Eliza Pinckney, and Alexander Hamilton throughout, From Colonies to Country is an amazing story of a nation making transformation. [This text is listed as an example that meets Common Core Standards in English language arts in grades 4-5 at http://www.corestandards.org.]
George vs. George
by Rosalyn SchanzerThere are two sides to every story. Rosalyn Schanzer's engaging and wonderfully illustrated book brings to life both sides of the American Revolution. The narrative introduces anew the two enemies, both named George: George Washington, the man who freed the American colonies from the British, and George III, the British king who lost them. Two leaders on different sides of the Atlantic, yet with more in common than we sometimes acknowledge. We are lead through their story, and the story of their times, and see both sides of the arguments that divided the colonies from the Kingdom. Was King George a "Royal Brute" as American patriots claimed? Or was he, as others believed, "the father of the people?" Was George Washington a scurrilous traitor, as all the king's supporters claimed? Or should we remember and celebrate him as "the father of his country?" Who was right? History teaches us that there are two sides to every story. Rosalyn Schanzer's book is an accessible account of one the most vital periods in American history. It is also a timeless lesson in seeing history from different points of view. The author spent two years researching books, paintings, cartoons, and descriptions of Revolutionary times. She uses art, text, and first-hand accounts to illustrate how history should never be reduced to simplistic conflicts between the "good guys" and the "bad guys. " Her illustrations, and her engaging quote bubbles, bring the Revolution to life again, and allow the characters of the period to speak for themselves. Through its lively text, detailed illustrations, and fully authenticated quotes, George vs. George shines fresh light on both sides of the story of our country's formative years.
Growing Up In The Civil War, 1861 To 1865
by Duane DamonLook at life through the eyes of children who lived during different eras of American history... Experience the thrill of landing in the New World for the first time and the terror of dodging bullets during the American Revolution. Journey to the American West in the back of a covered wagon and discover the horrors of the Civil War. From the technological advances of the early twentieth century to the despair of the Great Depression to the sacrifice of World War II, explore each tumultuous time. Our America reveals the true-life adventures of children (many of whom grew up to become presidents or other important national figures), through features such as historical sidebars, quotes from primary resources like diaries and letters, epigraphs, and art authentic to each era. Supports the national curriculum standards Culture; Time, Continuity, and Change; Individual Development and Identity; Individuals, Groups, and Institutions; Power, Authority, and Governance; Global Connections; and Civic Ideas and Practice as outlined by the National Council for the Social Studies.
A Historical Atlas Of The American Revolution
by Martha KneibA Historical Atlas of the American Revolution profiles the conditions of the American colonies under Great Britain and how colonists were angered enough to fight for their independence. Using primary source images, maps, and clear text, this book covers both the American and British victories in the Revolution, as well as the pivotal events such as the Boston Tea Party and Shay s Rebellion that led up to the fight. This is an objective and fascinating look at our American forefathers, the early patriots who fought for our freedom, and the environment that helped make it happen.
A History of US:
by Joy HakimRecommended by the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy as an exemplary informational text.
All kinds of people are coming to America. If you're European, you come in search of freedom or riches. If you're African, you come in chains. And what about the Indians, what is happening to them? Soon with the influx of so many people, thirteen unique colonies are born, each with its own story. Meet Pocahontas and John Smith in Jamestown. Join William Penn and the Quakers in Pennsylvania. Sit with the judges at the Salem witch trials. Hike over the mountains with Daniel Boone. And let Ben Franklin give you some salty advice in his Poor Richard's Almanac in this remarkable journey through the dynamic creation of what one day becomes the United States.
The Island at the Center of the World
by Russell ShortoBased on new documents just translated from C17th Dutch, this book tells the story of how a wilderness island populated by wolves, wild strawberries and native Indians, situated on a perfect natural harbour at the mouth of a great river leading into the centre of a new continent, became the crucial prize in a conflict between the Dutch and English about who would control the recently discovered American continent. This is the pageturning story of the early years of Manhattan under Dutch rule, with at its heart a battle between men who would be its leader, the autocratic despot Stuyvesant, and the liberal-minded lawyer Van den Donck. It is Russel Shorto's theory that the attitudes of the original Dutch settlers led to the free-trade, multi-cultural, upwardly-mobile 'melting pot' of New York, and that Van den Donck was the first to identify the principles of liberty and democracy that ended up underpinning the US contstitution.
John Brown
by Anne E. SchraffThis story will captivate and inspire your readers. John Brown hated slavery. On October 16, 1859, he and his armed followers took a violent stand against it. John Brown led his raiding party to the armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, with the intent of inciting slave rebellions throughout the South. However, within two days, ten of his men would be killed and Brown was arrested. Although the Harpers Ferry raid failed, John Brown had struck a blow against slavery. A staunch abolitionist his entire life, John Brown gave his life to end an evil that had existed in the United States for over two hundred years.
Liberty for All?
by Joy HakimEarly nineteenth-century America could just about be summed up by Henry David Thoreau's words when he said, "Eastward I go only by force, but westward I go free." It was an exuberant time for the diverse citizens of the United States, who included a range of folk, from mountain men and railroad builders to whalers and farmers, as they pushed forward into the open frontier and all their hopes and fears are captured in Liberty for All? In addition to colorful accounts of the massive westward migration, the California Gold Rush, a war with Mexico, the Oregon boundary conflict, Texas and the Alamo, Liberty for All? takes a deep look at the issue that began to gnaw at the country's core: How, in the land where "all men are created equal," could there be slaves? This text is listed as an example that meets Common Core Standards in English language arts in grades 4-5 at http://www.corestandards.org.]
Liberty or Death
by Margaret Whitman BlairLiberty or Death is the little-known story of the American Revolution told from the perspectives of the African-American slaves who fought on the side of the British Royal Army in exchange for a promise of freedom. Motivated by the 1775 proclamation by Virginia’s Royal Governor that any slaves who took up arms on his behalf would be granted their freedom, these men fought bravely for a losing cause. Many of the volunteers succumbed to battle wounds or smallpox, which ran rampant on the British ships on which they were quartered. After the successful Revolution, they emigrated to Canada and, ultimately to West Africa. Liberty or Death is the inspiring story of the forgotten freedom fighters of America’s Revolutionary War.
The Middle Colonies
by Michael Burgan and Brett Kelly and Christian Cornia and Barbie HeitNIMAC-sourced textbook
My Brother Sam Is Dead
by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher CollierThe classic story of one family torn apart by the Revolutionary War
All his life, Tim Meeker has looked up to his brother Sam. Sam's smart and brave -- and is now a part of the American Revolution. Not everyone in town wants to be a part of the rebellion. Most are supporters of the British -- including Tim and Sam's father.
With the war soon raging, Tim know he'll have to make a choice -- between the Revolutionaries and the Redcoats... and between his brother and his father.
Newbery Medal Honor book
Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Honor Book
Native American Myths
by Anita DalalOne of the most interesting ways to learn about other cultures is through the myths, legends and stories that they pass on to successive generations, which ultimately explain larger truths about the societies and cultures from which they originate.
Native Tribes of California and the Southwest
by Michael Johnson and Bill YenneThis series provides a comprehensive reference library on the Native nations and peoples of North America, covering essential information on 400 different tribes. Organized according to traditional geographical and cultural groupings, this collection provides an informative view of the diversity of Native North America, from the Canadian Arctic to the Rio Grande. Each volume features historical photographs, regional maps, historic and updated census information, a guide to prominent museums specializing in Native culture, and a comprehensive index to the tribes featured in all six volumes.
Native Tribes of the Great Basin and Plateau
by Michael Johnson and Duncan ClarkeAn introduction to the history, culture, and people of the many Indian tribes that inhabited the region of the present states of Utah and Nevada and the mountainous area of the northwest United States and southern British Columbia in Canada.
Native Tribes of the Plains and Prairie
by Michael JohnsonThis series provides a comprehensive reference library on the Native nations and peoples of North America, covering essential information on 400 different tribes. Organized according to traditional geographical and cultural groupings, this collection provides an informative view of the diversity of Native North America, from the Canadian Arctic to the Rio Grande. Each volume features historical photographs, regional maps, historic and updated census information, a guide to prominent museums specializing in Native culture, and a comprehensive index to the tribes featured in all six volumes.
Native Tribes of the Southeast
by Michael Johnson and Duncan ClarkeAn introduction to the history, culture, and people of the many Indian tribes that inhabited the region along the south Atlantic coast of the United States, around the Gulf of Mexico, and west to the Mississippi River.
The New England Colonies
by Michael Burgan and Brett Kelly and Christian Cornia and Barbie HeitNIMAC-sourced textbook
The New Nation
by Joy HakimBeginning with George Washington's inauguration and continuing into the nineteenth century, The New Nation tells the story of the remarkable challenges that the freshly formed United States faced. Thomas Jefferson's purchase of the Louisiana Territories (bought from France at a mere four cents an acre!), Lewis and Clark's daring expedition through this wilderness, the War of 1812 a.k.a. "Revolutionary War, Part II," Tecumseh's effort to form an Indian confederacy, the growth of Southern plantations, the beginning of the abolitionist movement,and the disgraceful Trail of Tears are just a few of the setbacks, sidetracks,and formidable tasks put in the new nation's path. Master storyteller Joy Hakim weaves these dramatic events and more into a seamless tale that's so exciting, how could it be true? But it is--it's A History of US. This text is listed as an example that meets Common Core Standards in English language arts in grades 4-5 at http://www.corestandards.org.]
The New York Colony
by Martin HintzAn introduction to the history, government, economy, resources, and people of the New York Colony.
The New York Colony
by Kevin CunninghamA True Book--The Thirteen Colonies Are you thrilled by true adventure stories? do you wonder how our founding fathers conquered the wilds of North America to create the United States? You'll experience it all in these books that tell the story of the brave men and women who escaped tyranny from across the ocean to forge a new world in 13 colonies that led to the birth of the United States of America.
The Ninth Amendment
by Kathy FurgangOne of the more elusive and nebulous of Constitutional amendments, the Ninth Amendment essentially guarantees unnamed and unspecified individual rights not explicitly enumerated within the Constitution or the other amendments. From its ratification, the amendment has caused confusion and uncertainty. Even Supreme Court justices have been unsure how to interpret it and unclear about exactly what individual rights it extends to American citizens. The vagueness of the amendments wording has discouraged many people from basing their claim to a specific right on the Ninth Amendment. This book penetrates the veil of mystification that surrounds the amendment and explains exactly why it was proposed and ratified, and why it was worded in the way it was. It shows how consensus about how to interpret and apply the amendment has very gradually emerged through the course of several landmark Supreme Court Cases. Indeed, the story of the Supreme Court's grappling with the Ninth Amendment provides a window onto some of the most seminal and iconic moments in American history, including New Deal politics, labor activities, fair housing laws, and past and current hot-button issues of privacy.
The Plymouth Colony
by Janet RieheckyDescribes the establishment of the English colony at Plymouth, Massachusetts, from its planning phase to the 1620 translantic journey of settlers, as well as the experiences of those settlers in the new land.
The Second Amendment
by Larry GerberThe United States has the most guns per capita of any country in the world. Many Americans value the right to bear arms, which they believe is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the Constitution. Others believe that the Second Amendment only guarantees the right for organized militias to own guns. This book surveys the history of the Second Amendment and gun ownership in the United States, and explores how the amendment continues to affect us today.