Mentor Text Linky- Social Studies

     I am linking up again with the Collaboration Cuties for their Social Studies Mentor Text Linky.  This was hard for me to choose just ONE mentor text for social studies.  I really LOVE teaching Social Studies through literature.  In fact it is how I generally introduce basic concepts such as elections, map skills, national symbols, diversity, cultural awareness, and more.  

     One of my favorite books about map skills and The United States is called The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller.  

     This books is fantastic.  In this book, the states decide to have a party to get to know one another and at the party they start talking about switching places with one another.  This way they can have a chance to live somewhere new and meet new friends.  When they switch places, they realize they were actually happier where they were to begin with.  It has a theme about being happy the way you are and where you are! 

     This book teaches geography in a fun and cute way. My students love learning all of the slogans that go along with the different states as well as little tidbits of information about the states.  Two years ago I had a first grade who knew every state and capital!  Can you believe it!?  She LOVED this book, as you can only imagine!  

     This book also is a great example text for writing.  It has a TON of dialogue.  My first graders try so hard to use dialogue but it is a tricky concept to grasp for them.  

Grab a copy, open it up and find out for yourself what a great book this is!! 

-Michelle