The teaching guides developed for Middle/High schools were created to support 8th grade American history content standards and learning frameworks. They present concise menus of ideas for teachers working with developing critical thinkers. Where the Elementary level teaching guides focus on comprehension, the Middle/High School level teaching guides emphasize critical thinking and drawing connections. The core of each chapter lesson is a Connect-Understand-Check Understanding format, with activities for prereading, comprehension and extension. In addition, each lesson presents activity suggestions for linking disciplines, further research, nonfiction reading, geography skills and differentiated instruction. Groups of chapters are contextualized by Part activities, which include setting context for reading, written assessment prompts, debate suggestions, ethics discussion prompts, projects, and activities. Also, each Part contains a cooperative learning activity developed for A History of US by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Social Organization of Schools. Reproducible assessments, worksheets graphic organizers and rubrics are found at back.

About the Series:
Master storyteller Joy Hakim has excited millions of young minds with the great drama of American history in her award-winning series A History of US. Recommended by the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy as an exemplary informational text, A History of US weaves together exciting stories that bring American history to life. Hailed by reviewers, historians, educators, and parents for its exciting, thought-provoking narrative, the books have been recognized as a break-through tool in teaching history and critical reading skills to young people. In ten books that span from Prehistory to the 21st century, young people will never think of American history as boring again.