Social Studies Education

A peaceful summer night is shattered by gunfire as an unseen assailant tries to murder police officer John Busby. Though horribly wounded, Busby survives. But the perpetrator remains at large, meaning neither Busby, nor his wife, nor their three children are safe. In separate chapters John and his daughter, Cylin, who was nine at the time, recount the story of that year. John writes graphically, and movingly, of his wounds, his pain, his multiple surgeries, and his rage.

George Washington knew he was setting an example in everything he did. The first American president had been a heroic military commander during the Revolutionary War, leading his forces to victory. As president he would guide the citizens of a new republic with a strong central government. No more would each state make its own decisions. Instead, they would band together, with the beloved Washington leading the way. It was up to him not to abuse the power of his mighty position.

Presidential politics has always been a minefield of competition, excitement, and even scandal. Learn about the evolution of presidential politics from the election of George Washington, the nation's first president, to the election of Barack Obama, the nation's first black president. Learn which elements have stood the test of time, such as the Electoral College, and other elements, such as voting rights and processes, that have evolved with the changing times.

In an immersive, exciting narrative nonfiction format, this powerful book follows a selection of people who experienced the events surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

After Confederate General Robert E. Lee's surrender on April 9, 1865, the Civil War finally appeared to be coming to a close. But the nation's joy was about to be cut short by a sinister assassination plot and one of the largest manhunts in US history. Through powerful narrative storytelling, follow the tales of people who experienced the tragedy firsthand.

The hookup is now part of college life. Yet the drunken encounter we always hear about tells only a fraction of the story. Rising above misinformation and moralizing, Lisa Wade offers the definitive account of this new sexual culture and demonstrates that the truth is both more heartening and more harrowing than we thought. Offering invaluable insights for parents, educators, and students, Wade situates hookup culture within the history of sexuality, the evolution of higher education, and the unfinished feminist revolution.

Published in 1925, The Gift is one of French sociologist Marcel Mauss's few non-collaborative works. In it, he elevates what might appear to be a simple gift from the status of innocent object to something that has the capacity to motivate people and define social relationships. The Gift analyzes cultures across the world and across time, with the way gifts are given and received working as a guide to understanding the rules and traditions of many different societies.

Janet Malcolm delves into the psychopathology of journalism using a strange and unprecedented lawsuit as her larger-than-life example: the lawsuit of Jeffrey MacDonald, a convicted murderer, against Joe McGinniss, the author of Fatal Vision. Examining the always uneasy, sometimes tragic relationship that exists between journalist and subject, Malcolm finds that neither journalist nor subject can avoid the moral impasse that is built into the journalistic situation.

The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science (2007) by psychiatrist Norman Doidge explores breakthroughs in neuroscience regarding plasticity, or the brain’s ability to change. Doidge shares inspiring stories of the work done by what he calls “neuroplasticians” - neuroscientists who are pioneering new methods for optimizing brain function....

Every year, the world’s farmers produce a lot of food for people to eat. Yet every night, millions of people around the world go to bed hungry. Why are people going without food when the earth is able to produce so much? Max Axiom and the Society of Super Scientists go on a fact-finding mission to discover the reasons behind food scarcity. Young listeners can join the team to find out why many people deal with food insecurity and learn ways that they can help.

What does a state governor do? Learn about the duties of a state governor, who can be a state governor, where they work, and how state governors are elected.

What is an election? Learn about elections and why it is important that people vote. Descriptive main text, fast facts, and callout definitions work together to support understanding.

Bertrand Russell is, without a doubt, one of the most prominent and influential figures in philosophy in the 20th century. His work was a significant influence on minds such as Albert Einstein, Isaac Asimov, and Noam Chomsky. With The Problems of Philosophy, he brings a complicated subject into easy reach. Russell uses this work to highlight the main philosophical subjects examined through the course of history.

In The Spirit of Our Work, Dr. Cynthia Dillard centers the spiritual lives of Black women educators and their students, arguing that spirituality has guided Black people throughout the diaspora. She demonstrates how Black women teachers and teacher educators can heal, resist, and (re)member their identities in ways that are empowering for them and their students. Dillard emphasizes that any discussion of Black teachers’ lives and work cannot be limited to truncated identities as enslaved persons in the Americas.

This audiobook provides an introduction to the concept of bartering and trading in exchange for goods and services. It also includes some historical information.

Veterinarians keep our pets healthy. Learn about a vet's tools, workplace, and role in the community.

What happens when you need to find some materials at the library? The library is full of books, magazines, and computers that we all can use. What else can we find at the library?

Freezing waters. Dizzying heights. Bullets flying through the air. It’s just another day in the office for some workers. Learn about some of the deadliest jobs on the planet....

Learn about community helpers at school.

If I were the president, I would be Commander in Chief. I would help keep the country safe. I would also play tennis on my own court. Dream big, and see what fun it is to be the president.