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The US Congress for Kids: Over 200 Years of Lawmaking, Deal-Breaking, and Compromising, with 21 Activities
By Henry Waxman, Ronald A. Reis, Kristi Noem. 2014
An interactive guidebook to the history and inner workings of the legislative branch of the U.S. Government Providing a historical…
perspective on all that is going on today, US Congress for Kids examines the major milestones in congressional history, including the abolition of slavery, extending the vote to African Americans and to women, and investigating misconduct in both government and private institutions. Kids will be engaged by the focus on dramatic stories, personalities, and turning points while also benefitting from the clear discussions of Congressional purpose, structure, history, and ongoing issues. Educational, hands-on activities that illuminate the workings of the U.S. Congress include making a House ceremonial mace, creating congressional money, making a capitol dome, and designing a Congressional Medal of Honor.From his impoverished childhood to his feat of becoming one of the most successful entertainers of all time, this fascinating…
biography presents a memorable portrait of magician and escape artist Harry Houdini. Guidelines for 21 fun magic tricks are also provided, including how to stick a needle into a balloon without popping it, how to step through a note card, and how to make a coin vanish. Illustrating the science and logic behind many of Houdini's most notable acts, the magic-based activities also explain his famous Milk Can Escape through an accessible water displacement experiment and demonstrate simple mathematics with his Odd Number Trick. Touching on his time as an actor, an aviator, and possibly even a spy for the U.S. government, this thoroughly entertaining biography also features a time line, curriculum links for educators, and books and websites for further exploration.Our Supreme Court: A History with 14 Activities (For Kids series)
By Nadine Strossen, James Baker, Richard Panchyk, Senator John Kerry. 2007
This lively and comprehensive activity book teaches young readers everything they need to know about the nation's highest court. Organized…
around keystones of the Constitution--including free speech, freedom of religion, civil rights, criminal justice, and property rights--the book juxtaposes historical cases with similar current cases. Presented with opinions from both sides of the court cases, readers can make up their own minds on where they stand on the important issues that have evolved in the Court over the past 200 years. Interviews with prominent politicians, high-court lawyers, and those involved with landmark decisions--including Ralph Nader, Rudolph Giuliani, Mario Cuomo, and Arlen Specter--show the personal impact and far-reaching consequences of the decisions. Fourteen engaging classroom-oriented activities involving violations of civil rights, exercises of free speech, and selecting a classroom Supreme Court bring the issues and cases to life. The first 15 amendments to the Constitution and a glossary of legal terms are also included.New Big Book of U.S. Presidents: Fascinating Facts about Each and Every President, Including an American History Timeline
By Todd Davis, Marc Frey. 2013
What They Don't Tell You About: William Shakespeare
By Anita Ganeri. 2014
Did you know that Shakespeare couldn't spell his own surname? Love him or hate him, everyone has heard of the…
world's most famous playwright. But did the Elizabethans think he was a genius or simply that he wrote great soap operas? Any book on Shakespeare will give you the boring facts THEY think you should know, but only this one will tell you what the bard and his mates were REALLY like ... Uncover a wealth of information about Shakespeare! Find out where he was born and look at his family tree, see a map of Shakespeare's Stratford and Shakespeare's London, find out what school was like in Shakespeare's time, what London life was like and what sort of people went to the theatre. See a cross-section illustration of the Globe and discover how special effects were created and what actors wore. Read biographies of famous actors of the era such as Edward Alleyn, Richard Burbage, Richard Tarlton and William Kempe as well as biographies of contemporary writers Ben Jonson, Thomas Kyd and Christopher Marlowe. Read famous quotes and sayings and whizz your eye over a timeline of Shakespeare's plays and of his life. This book will tell you what Shakespeare's longest or shortest play is, or even which is the most miserable or goriest? It includes plots and information about ten of Shakespeare's plays: Richard III; Romeo and Juliet; A Midsummer Night's Dream; The Merchant of Venice; Henry V; Twelfth Night; Hamlet; Othello; Macbeth and The Tempest. It highlights some of Shakespeare's funniest characters and some of those that were in love. It concludes looking at how Shakespeare died, and discusses whether Shakespeare was, in fact, Sir Francis Bacon, Edward De Vere, Roger Manners, William Stanley or Christopher Marlowe. Finally, test your knowledge of all you've read with a fun 20-question quiz.Dictatorship (Major Forms of World Government)
By Diane Bailey. 2013
Dictatorship is a form of government in which an individual or a small group wields power without legal or constitutional…
constraints. Dictators come in many varieties. Some are military officers who overthrow an elected government. Others are democratically elected politicians who, once in office, decide to discard democracy. Some dictators use power to transform society. Others expressly try to prevent social or political change. Still others don't appear to be motivated by any ideology, whether liberal or conservative. Instead, they use power simply to enrich themselves or bolster their egos. This book examines the diverse forms of dictatorship. It is filled with interesting and instructive case histories.LL Cool J (Superstars of Hip-Hop)
By Z. B. Hill. 2013
Since 1985, LL Cool J has been a major part of hip-hop. In the 1980s and '90s, LL sold millions…
of albums and had many hit songs. Today, many fans might know LL more for his acting, but music was LL's first love. LL Cool J tells the story of how LL made his name in rap when he was still just a teenager. Read about how LL became one of hip-hop's first superstars. Learn about how LL moved to making movies without giving up the music career he loved.Oligarchy (Major Forms of World Government)
By Leeanne Gelletly. 2013
In an oligarchy, political power rests with a small privileged group. Oligarchs may exercise power directly or indirectly, but they…
often act out of selfish or corrupt motives. This book examines the history of oligarchy, which was first described by the ancient Greeks more than 2,300 years ago. The book also asks whether today's superrich constitute a new oligarchy that threatens to undermine American democracy.Hangin' with Jason Dolley: An Unauthorized Biography
By Grace Norwich. 2009
Jason Dolley always makes an impression! With his surfer- boy good looks and adorable smile, ability to take on a…
variety of different roles, and genuinely sweet personality, it's no wonder he has so many devoted fans! This super-cute actor has been one of Disney Channel's hottest stars, and we have his complete story!Hip Hop: A Short History (Superstars of Hip-Hop)
By C. F. Earl. 2013
Today, hip-hop is everywhere. In music, fashion, art, and entertainment, hip-hop has become a language that we all understand. But…
it hasn't been that way for very long. Hip-hop grew from the neighborhoods of New York City to become a major part of life around the world. Learn about how slavery and the civil rights movement helped lead to the birth of hip-hop. Read about how break dancing, graffiti, and DJs all added to hip-hop. Find out how hip-hop has changed over the years. Hip-Hop: A Short History tells the story of how hip-hop started and how it became popular all over the world.The Equal Rights Amendment (Finding a Voice: Women's Fight for Equal)
By Leeanne Gelletly. 2013
It took decades, and a Constitutional amendment, for all American women to get the right to vote. But the legal…
right to vote did not guarantee equality under the law. Suffrage leader Alice Paul believed another amendment was needed. In 1923, she wrote the Equal Rights Amendment. It was introduced in Congress. And the national debate over the ERA began. The major principle of the Equal Rights Amendment is that gender should not determine any legal rights of citizens. Supporters believed the ERA would keep women from being denied equal rights under federal, state, or local law. The ERA had many opponents in the 1920s. And it had even more in the 1970s, after Congress passed the measure. Although it failed to pass by its 1982 ratification deadline, some people believe the ERA is still alive. They are continuing the effort to put equality for women in the U.S. Constitution.The United States' boundaries have expanded over the centuries--and at the same time, Americans' ideas about their country have grown…
as well. The nation the world knows today was shaped by centuries of thinkers and events. But some things have not changed. The basic framework of the American nation was laid out by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Over the years, these have remained basically the same. The U.S. economic system has grown--but it too is much the same. So is America's system of voting and elections. As you learn about how these important parts of the United States work in the twenty-first century, you will come to better understand what makes America the nation that it is.Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Education in Afghanistan and Pakistan
By Greg Mortenson. 2009
From the author of the phenomenal No. 1 bestseller Three Cups of Tea, the continuing story of this determined humanitarian's…
efforts to promote peace through education. In this dramatic first-person narrative, Greg Mortenson picks up where Three Cups of Tea left off in 2003, recounting his relentless, ongoing efforts to establish schools for girls in Afghanistan; his extensive work in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan after a massive earthquake hit the region in 2005; and the unique ways he has built relationships with Islamic clerics, militia commanders, and tribal leaders even as he was dodging shootouts with feuding Afghan warlords and surviving an eight-day armed abduction by the Taliban. He shares for the first time his broader vision to promote peace through education and literacy, as well as touching on military matters, Islam, and women - all woven together with the many rich personal stories of the people who have been involved in this remarkable two-decade humanitarian effort.A Shifting Role: America and the World (1900-1912) (How America Became America)
By Victor South. 2013
The United States' boundaries have expanded over the centuries--and at the same time, Americans' ideas about their country have grown…
as well. The nation the world knows today was shaped by centuries of thinkers and events. Teddy Roosevelt's America, for example, was a different one from today's version, and yet Roosevelt's ideas and actions shaped present-day America. The actions and policies of Presidents Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson also led to America's involvement in the Caribbean and in Central America. As the world headed toward World War I, the United States was ready to take its place as a leader on the global stage.Communism (Major Forms of World Government)
By Rudolph T. Heits. 2013
For several decades during the 20th century, communism was one of the world's dominant forms of government. At one time,…
Communist regimes held power across much of Asia and all of Eastern Europe. In addition, Cuba and a handful of countries in Africa had Communist governments. Leading the Communist bloc was the Soviet Union, a superpower whose global influence rivaled that of the United States. By the early 1990s, however, communism had collapsed in the Soviet Union and its satellite countries in Eastern Europe. Today only China, Vietnam, North Korea, and Cuba continue to be ruled by Communist regimes. This book provides an introduction to communism. It explores the principles that underpin communism and examines the way Communist governments have exercised power in practice.Milestones in the Evolution of Government (Major Forms of World Government)
By Leeanne Gelletly. 2013
How did large, complex states develop from small clans and nomadic tribes? How have rulers throughout history justified their right…
to govern? What ideas and events shaped the development of modern forms of government? Milestones in the Evolution of Government answers these and other important questions. The book provides students with the perspective to understand the basis for various forms of government-- including their own.Monarchy (Major Forms of World Government)
By Leeanne Gelletly. 2013
Monarchy is a form of government in which a hereditary ruler serves as head of state, typically for life. Monarchies…
have existed since the dawn of human civilization. But while the kings and queens, emperors and empresses of the past wielded broad (and often absolute) power, many of today's monarchs perform ceremonial functions only. This book examines the various forms that monarchy has taken. Students of government and history will find it a valuable and fascinating resource.Women in the Civil Rights Movement (Finding a Voice: Women's Fight for Equal)
By Judy Hasday. 2013
African-American women played a major role in bringing about social change during the civil rights movement. They participated in sit-ins…
and marches. They helped plan demonstrations and boycotts. And they were arrested for civil disobedience. Many women worked behind the scene, helping to organize protest efforts. Some women took on leadership roles. One was NAACP activist Rosa Parks, who is best known for inspiring the Montgomery bus boycott. She worked alongside Ella Baker, who later helped organize the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). SNCC founding member Diane Nash directed sit-ins and Freedom Rides. Fannie Lou Hamer took on the political machine of Mississippi in a demand for black voter representation. These women and many others of the civil rights movement helped ensure that the United States government guaranteed equal rights for all Americans, black and white.GREAT PIONEER PROJECTS
By Shawn Braley, Rachel Dickinson. 2007
What was it like to be an American pioneer during the 1800s? Great Pioneer Projects You Can Build Yourself introduces…
readers ages 9 and up to the settling of the great American frontier with over 25 hands-on building projects and activities. Young learners build replica sod houses, log cabins, and covered wagons and create their own printing presses and maps. Great Pioneer Projects You Can Build Yourself provides detailed step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and templates for creating each project. Historical facts and anecdotes, biographies, and fascinating trivia support the fun projects and teach readers about the American pioneers' relentless push westward. Together they give kids a first-hand look at daily life on the trail and on the frontier. Great Pioneer Projects You Can Build Yourself brings the American Pioneer experience to life.Great Colonial America Projects
By Kris Bordessa. 2006
Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself introduces readers ages 9-12 to colonial America through hands-on building projects. From…
dyeing and spinning yarn to weaving cloth, from creating tin plates and lanterns to learning wattle and daub construction. Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself gives readers a chance to experience how colonial Americans lived, cooked, entertained themselves, and interacted with their neighbors.