Product Description

This teaching guide accompanies the third edition of the pioneering history of the United States. Like A History of US, this guide is designed as a flexible resource to be used with students at varying levels. Each guide presents conceptual frameworks, teaching strategies, and assessment suggestions as well as a range of activities for enrichment and extension.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #434178 in Books
• Published on: 2002-11-07
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 112 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-This series entry is a more than adequate but stylistically flawed survey of the history of our country from the inauguration of Washington through the first part of the 19th century. Commendably, Hakim is not a slave to the "presidential syndrome" that seems to affect many writers of such surveys. To be sure, she does give information regarding the era's presidents in chronological order, but intersperses accounts of such topics as Lewis and Clark, the first census, transportation, and the growth of industry. The book demonstrates well the author's meticulous research and organizational skills. These features are reinforced by the inclusion of an excellent selection of reproductions of art, letters, posters, etc. accompanied by informative captions. Hakim also makes good use of illuminating sidebars and apt quotations from the period's "movers and shakers." Unfortunately, the narrative does not flow smoothly; it is largely made up of words with one or two syllables and sentences that are themselves short or made up of short clauses; these style features combine to create a choppy effect. This flaw is further amplified by the inclusion of too many pedantic questions for readers to think about. One is given the impression that this is intended to be a "hi-lo" book, but the prose style may actually discourage some readers.
David A. Lindsey, Lakewood Junior/Senior High School, WA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
``Now this is confusing, so pay attention.'' Deftly simplifying difficult issues, Hakim continues her vivacious tour in this fourth volume (of a projected ten) in the Oxford History of US. Covering the half century from Washington's inauguration to Taylor's election, she focuses less on the progression of events than on the play of ideas (e.g., how the Constitution's provisions for checks and balances were wrestled into a working system) and on sweeping trends such as the profound social changes wrought by the Industrial Revolution or the effects of having seven gifted leaders in a row as presidents, followed by five who were mediocre. Hakim hangs her narrative on the theme of leadership--not just that of Washington, Jefferson, et al., but also as provided by John Marshall, Tecumseh, Sequoyah, Samuel Slater, Frederick Douglass, and Daniel Webster, among many others. She firmly points out the paradox of a nation that was founded on the idea of equality but nevertheless condoned slavery and the forced removal of Native Americans. Though the blocks of diminutive type and plethora of small, dark period illustrations have an imposing look, readers young and old will find themselves amused, amazed, and engrossed by this searching, opinionated survey. Chronology; wide-ranging bibliography; index. (Nonfiction. 10+) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

David McCullough, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of John Adams
"A big breath of fresh air and the best possible news for the youngsters who get to read them."

Customer Reviews

Great for home schooling
I think that this book has been a life saver for our homeschool history needs. It is written at a level my 5th grader understands and sparks many conversations that I had not expected to have until high school history. It has sparked his interest to learn more about the people and places of history. I love the shorter sentences and all of the thinking questions. Even the chapters are short so we can take one step at a time. It defines words that he would have asked about in the margin and gives great pronunciations to difficult words and people's names. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read history with their child

Homeschooling Dream
Joy Hakim's entire series is a homeschoolers dream. The books are written so well and the pictures are so nice that interest is kept by both student and teacher.