Highlighting Our History: Colonial Times Read-alouds PLUS for the Common Core

Introduction

As K-5 teachers go about the work of making instructional shifts in their teaching to meet the demands of the Common Core and new initiatives around STEM education, it can feel like “something has to give.”  Many of you report that social studies has taken a back seat, and fear that students may lose a sense of our history and heritage.  This “Read-alouds PLUS” article will show you how you can leverage the power of daily read-alouds to practice some Common Core Standards for the English Language Arts while infusing some social studies content, specifically the early colonial period.

Part of our job as teachers is to share books that students would not necessarily read on their own. The books featured on this list (both literature and informational text) will help to expand students' knowledge of U.S. history and are appropriate for use with lower and middle elementary students. Consider using them as part of a “Then and Now” or “Past and Present” focus in kindergarten or first grade, or with middle elementary students as part of a unit related to early settlements or the thirteen colonies.

 

IntroductionThe Power of Daily Read-aloudsCharacter Driven Books
Books with Narrow FocusBooks About Daily LifeConnections to Other CCSS Standards

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