Biographies For Grades 4-8 Correlated to the Curriculum
Extend the learning through this new biography series. The Library of American Lives and Times use extensive primary resources as it brings American history to life for your students.
Learn about some of the greatest players who helped in shaping America as it grew from a colony to a world super power. Through a chronological narrative, enriched with diary entries, letters, and other primary documents, students will learn about the various stages of our nation's development, as well as learning to think about history from the perspective of both individuals and society.
By learning about history from a particular and unique biographical perspective, each student will learn about the following themes that form the framework for the social studies standards: Culture; People, Places, and Environments; Individual Development and Identity; Individuals, Groups, and Institutions; Power, Authority, and Governance; Production, Distribution, and Consumption; Global Connections: Civic Ideals and Practices.
These books are comprehensive biographical treatments of important Americans, emphasizing not just their lives, but the times in which they lived.
Betsy Ross - As the seamstress of the American flag, an enduring symbol of liberty and democracy, Betsy Ross is an integral part of the fabric of American history. Her life story transcends that one great symbol, though. She was a mother, a businesswoman, and a contemporary of George Washington. This biography of Betsy Ross is a window not only into the life of a proud and courageous woman, but also into the early days of our nation.
Reviews
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Suzy Myers's bouncy, upbeat narration enthusiastically leads us through the details of Betsy Ross's life and the Revolutionary War era--covering everything from the Boston Tea Party to how Ross's Quaker background influenced her life. Over her 85 years, Ross had three marriages, made sacrifices for her country despite her religion's antiwar beliefs, and ran an upholstery shop in a time when women did not own businesses. Most interesting is how the Ross family remembrances conflict with historical accounts. Betsy, for example, told of meeting with George Washington, but this isn't substantiated in his thorough journal. And only her family's stories support the claim that she made the American flag. Discussions and controversies will intrigue young listeners as much as the historical recounting. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
