An exploration of Yosemite National Park, including how its mountainous landscape was formed, its history of preservation, and tourist attractions such as the granite monolith called El Capitan.
An exploration of Grand Canyon National Park, including how its enormous canyon was formed, its history of preservation, and tourist attractions such as the overlook called Mather Point.
An exploration of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including how its mountainous landscape was formed, its history of preservation, and tourist attractions such as the historic settlement called Cades Cove.
Discusses the events that led up to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
Showcases the work and achievements of 12 of the world’s most influential authors. Each spread contains fascinating facts about each author and how their accomplishments helped change the world.
Since its introduction in the 1970s, hip-hop has become a way of life. This title takes an inside look at hip-hop dance. Hip-Hop Dance examines the origins of many styles of hip-hop dance, such as breaking and locking and popping, and explores how they burst into the mainstream and went global. Features include a timeline, a glossary, essential facts, references, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
Occupying Alcatraz discusses how in 1969, a group of daring Native American activists launched a 19-month takeover of Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, seeking to highlight the poor living conditions that persisted in Native American communities throughout the country. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
The Belles of Baseball discusses how in the 1940s and 1950s, women broke traditional gender barriers by playing professional baseball, boosting morale during World War II and paving the way for future generations of female athletes. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
William Williams Documents Ellis Island Immigrants considers the work of Ellis Island commissioner William Williams as he collected photos recording the history of the immigration facility and those who passed through its doors in the early 1900s. Using many stunning, full-page photos, it examines Williams’ role in executing US immigration policy during this pivotal time in American history. Features include a glossary, references, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
This title examines an important time in U.S. history - the Prohibition Era. Compelling text explores the background of prohibition, including the events leading up to it, its economic effects, its repeal, and the key people involved. Features include a table of contents, timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
Examines the 12 most amazing facts about the D-day invasion. Full-color spreads provide information about the event’s critical moments, key players, and lasting effects paired with interesting sidebars, questions to consider, and a timeline.
Examines the 12 most amazing facts about the first moon landing. Full-color spreads provide information about the event’s critical moments, key players, and lasting effects paired with interesting sidebars, questions to consider, and a timeline.
Examines the 12 most amazing facts about the Louisiana Purchase. Full-color spreads provide information about the event’s critical moments, key players, and lasting effects paired with interesting sidebars, questions to consider, and a timeline.
Examines the 12 most amazing facts about the Montgomery bus boycott. Full-color spreads provide information about the event’s critical moments, key players, and lasting effects paired with interesting sidebars, questions to consider, and a timeline.
Examines the 12 most amazing facts about the US Civil War. Full-color spreads provide information about the event’s critical moments, key players, and lasting effects paired with interesting sidebars, questions to consider, and a timeline.
Examines the 12 most amazing facts about the Boston tea party. Full-color spreads provide information about the event’s critical moments, key players, and lasting effects paired with interesting sidebars, questions to consider, and a timeline.
This title examines an important historic event - the Manhattan Project. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores events leading up to the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II, key players involved, their lives during the project, the development and use of the atomic bomb, its aftermath, and its effects on society. Features include a table of contents, a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
This title examines an important historic event - the civil rights movement. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores the history of racism and civil rights in the United States from slavery to segregation, the roles the Montgomery bus boycott, the integration at Little Rock Central High School, and the Birmingham campaign played in the movement, key African-American activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, and the effects of this event on society. Features include a table of contents, a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
Describes the events of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.
In rough frontier cabins, tidy farmhouses, and elegant townhouses, Americans in the 1800s were dedicated to living as well and as comfortably as their circumstances allowed. The American home was a sacred institution, the seat of family life where the patriarch ruled with Mother at his side as guardian of the home, and the children were raised with strict discipline and strong values. Changes in taste and fashion, improvements in technology (indoor plumbing and a host of new laborsaving devices), and social change transformed home and family life in the 1800s, as opportunities for leisure activities and commercially produced consumer goods came within reach of the average American. But the strong American tradition of the sanctity of the home, consumerism, and the importance of a happy family life has its roots in the homes of nineteenth century Americans.
American society in the 1800s had a rough edge to it. In a nation made up of people of diverse backgrounds and heritage, social controls needed to be strict and enforceable. The extreme economic inequality of Americas cities and the wide open moral code of the frontier led to a culture of crime and violence that still plagues our country. During the 1800s, professional police forces were established in cities, towns, and territories across the continent. On the frontier, justice was often swift and severe, with hanging judges making their reputations as representatives of the law in a lawless land. Long prison sentences in miserable conditions were the rule for criminals, and many a prisoner might have preferred the option of a quick execution. Before the reform of the legal system, which is an ongoing process, there was definitely a separate law, and a separate standard of penalties, for the rich and for the poor. The evolution of a humane penal system and a fairer protection of all citizens under the law is an important contribution of 1800s America to the modern world.
For most of the 1800s, children were considered small, unruly adults who needed to be strictly disciplined and put to useful work as soon as they were able. The very concept of childhood itself, as a carefree, innocent time, is a result of increasing economic stability and changing family roles in the 1800s. Before child welfare laws were enacted and compulsory education enforced, children made up an important part of the industrial and agricultural workforce in 1800s America. Toys and time for games and fun may have been a luxury, but kids will be kids, and the adults that loved them made sure their lives weren't all work and no play. The establishment of public schools, more humane working conditions, and expanding economic opportunities helped improve the life of Americas children in the 1800s, but they worked hard and their pleasures were simple ones.
While often behind the scenes and hidden from history, women in 1800s America worked side by side with men in building our nation. On the frontier, strong, capable women worked as hard or harder than their menfolk, taming the land and raising the crops while shouldering the responsibilities of keeping house and caring for the children. The life of the farm wife in the settled parts of the country was one of sunup to sundown labor in an era with few modern conveniences. And in urban areas, working class women were a major part of the workforce in an industrializing economy, while middle and upper class women influenced America's social movements, supported charities, and helped beautify the gritty cities. In the course of the 1800s, new labor saving technologies in the home, improved health conditions, greater economic and educational opportunities, and a growing sense of their rights helped to empower women and started the movement toward full equality with men that continues to this day.
The farmers, workers, and pioneers of America in the 1800s were nourished by a tradition of hearty, down home cooking that is still a part of our national cuisine - New England baked beans, roast beef, turkey, corn on the cob, and pumpkin pies. With roots in the British Isles, and with important contributions from Native American food plants and cooking techniques, American food and drink quality and seasonal variety was vastly improved during the 1800s by new technologies in transportation, food storage, hygiene, and preservation, growing national and world markets, and not least the delicious ethnic cuisines of new immigrant groups. Hungry for innovation, quality, and economy, Americans in the 1800s became the best fed nation in the history of the world!