MeL Minute

MeL eBooks: An Invaluable Resource for Educators

In the April 9 MeL Minute, Holly Hibner and Mary Kelly shared some exceptional ideas for working with students to capitalize on the free access Michigan citizens have to the eBooks collections in MeL. They pointed out some great topics that can be researched, and they emphasized the ease and necessity of utilizing Google Drive and Google Classroom with digital books.

Social Studies Curriculum

To expand on their post, consider the following eBooks as a small sample of texts that can support grade-specific social studies curriculum.  These can easily be linked (copy/paste eBook permalink) to any classroom management software or simply dropped into a teacher’s Google Classroom for engagement with his or her students. 

Grades K-2

1 – H2.0.1 Demonstrate chronological thinking by distinguishing among past, present, and future using family or school events.

• Measuring Time with a Calendar by Darice Bailer
• Timelines, Timelines, Timelines!  By Kelly Boswell

1 – H2.0.5 Identify the events or people celebrated during U.S. national holidays and why we celebrate them.

• Memorial Day by Karen Latchana Kenney & Judith A. Hunt
• Labor Day by Meredith Dash

1 – C2.0.2 Identify important symbols of the United States of America and what they represent.

• Bald Eagle by Tyler Saunders-Monroe
• Why Are There Stripes on the American Flag? by Martha E. H. Rustad & Kyle Poling

Grade 3

1 – H3.0.9 Describe how Michigan attained statehood.

• Michigan by Niels R. Jensen

1 – H3.0.10 Create a timeline to sequence and describe major eras and events in early Michigan history.

• Michigan: The Great Lake State by Amy Rechner

Grade 4

4 – G2.0.1 Describe ways in which the United States can be divided into different regions.

• United States:  The Land by Marlene Greil
• What’s in The Midwest by Robin Johnson

4 – G4.0.1 Use a case study or story about migration within or to the United States to identify push and pull factors (why they left, why they came) that influenced the migration.

• Immigration Stories by Marcus McArthur
• Go West with Settlers and Farmers by Rachel Stuckey

Grade 5

5 – U1.4.3 Explain the cultural impact that occurred between the British, French, and Spanish on the lives of Indigenous Peoples.

• Go West: First Contact with Native Nations by Cynthia O’Brien

5 – U3.2.4 Describe the significance of the Treaty of Paris.

•   Final Years of the American Revolution by John Hamilton

5 – U3.3.1 Describe the powers of the national government and state governments under the Articles of Confederation.

• The Articles of Confederation by Liz Sonneborn

Need to learn more about how to use MeL eResources? Check out our eBooks video tutorial, our MeL Educator Guide, or the MeL courses available in EduPaths for more information.

Brought to you by Ann Kaskinen of the MeL Team

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