ISBN-13: 978-0448431444
Standard: SS.3.A.1 Analyze Primary and Secondary Sources
Grade level: Third Grade
* This book is a wonderful introduction to a chapter book biography. There are a series of books about many different historical personages, most of which are American, that can be used in the classroom so students would find the books familiar and interesting. There are real pictures to engage students with visuals and there are many anecdotes, diary passages, and quotes from the real historical person to engage the reader. The type is large and clear, and the chapters are quite short. This book can be used to discuss secondary sources very well.
* This book can be used to differentiate with different learners by breaking down the chapters, having a glossary of words including pictures, and using images to help the students understand the story, including the historical references to the past. There is a glossary in the back of each book that allows the students to look up the words on their own but the teacher can print that glossary and make it a larger typeset or include more information as needed. The words are at grade level but not too hard. The students can read this book with sticky notes to make note of items they do not understand.

* This book is easy to understand for most readers because it includes a glossary, real pictures, and simple words. For the students learning English, the teacher can provide more pictures of word meanings from the glossary in the back and include images of words that are confusing. The teacher can help the students by having them place sticky notes in areas they get confused or have them work with a buddy. This book is great for the entire class to read or students can choose different Americans since the series is quite extensive. Ideally, the teacher could have students in a group read the same books and have a book discussion every day to answer questions, clarify any confusing historical events, and to encourage sharing thoughts. 

ISBN-13: 978-1570915239
Grade Level: Third through Seventh
Standard: SS.3.A.1 Analyze Primary and Secondary Sources
* This wonderful book is great for students of American History. There are wonderful illustrations and the book has short excerpts about each woman. Students can get a brief overview of women who changed the world, creating an interest in finding out more.
* Since this book is an alphabet book, it can be used for students with special needs to reinforce letter learning and also for English language learners. While they should have alphabet awareness by third grade, this book makes it possible to use it for any type of struggling student to equate history with language. 
* This book could be used as a jumping off point for book discussions, especially if students want to find out more information. Again, this book can be used for a comparison of primary and secondary sources since the information is brief. There are also illustrations which builds knowledge for all students. Students who have any special needs can find more images by looking up the historic person or creating a visual timeline from the information.

ISBN-13: 978-1515742647
Standard: SS.3.A.1.2 Utilize technology resources to gather information from primary and secondary sources.
Grade Level: Third Grade
* Students can create their own adventure and make their own decisions in this interactive book that contains choices for the students to be American or British, maps, letters, illustrations, and timelines. This makes history real for students to understand how the United States was created. 
* Students of all abilities will be able to use this book since it contains a glossary, illustrations, and a timeline. The students can create sticky notes for areas of need but they can also pair with a book partner to understand the interactive portion of the book, which makes the book very engaging for students.
* This would also be a great book to help create a dialogue in a book group where students discuss why they made the decisions in this choose your own adventure story. Students can also act out parts or create a map showing their path through the book using the maps found in the story, copies can be made to assist all students.

ISBN-13: 978-0064441001
Standard: SS.3.A.1.3 Define terms related to the social sciences.
Grade Level: Kindergarten-Third grade
* This book tells the story of a family in 1868 that travels to America for a better life. The family came from Sweden but this book can open up the ideas of families from all over the world that have come to America to improve the life of their family. This story can be told with the class adding input about their own families and a class map can be made, in addition to relating terms of social studies, such as migration, immigration, culture, and ethnicity. Since students are usually aware of their family roots, it should be an interesting subject to delve into as a group.
* Students with special needs can contribute with all parts, including defining terms, which can be made into match games done with a partner. 
* Book groups can read this and other books about immigration and learn about different cultures, where they came from, and how we are all part of the same place. This is great for students to feel part of one whole culture in the classroom. 

ISBN-13: 978-0763612740
Standard: SS.3.A.1.3 Define terms related to the social sciences.
Reading Levels:  Interest Level:  Grade 2-4   /   DRA Level:  40   /   Lexile Measure: 470L   /   Grade Equivalent: 3.5   /   Guided Reading: S 
* This book is a good addition to stories about immigration, in addition to furthering the discussion on social studies terms and historical fiction. The selling point for this beautiful story about a 13-year-old girl traveling to America alone from her country of origin is the wonderful illustrations that also help tell the story. 
* The book has wonderful illustrations so students with special learning needs and students who speak a language other than English can delve into the paintings to help understand the action. This book has a wonderful flow and would be great for students to understand the hardships and wonder of immigration.
* This book would be great for small book groups since students can tell much of the story from illustrations. They tell the story with the strong visuals which give good cues on the emotions of the characters.