Michael Zeller
ED 639
10/9/02
Supplemental Budget Preparation
The following is a list of supplementary social studies resource materials that am
recommending for purchase. These resources will enable teachers within the social
studies department, including myself, to engage the students in new meaningful ways.
The materials below could be incorporated into many of the various social studies
courses offered at this high school, especially American History and Civics.
Video Tapes
1. A Slaves Story
$79.95
This video presents the true story of a slave who runs from the South with her
husband only to find racial discrimination in Pennsylvania. The story of Ellen Craft is
interesting in itself but the video will allow the students to see slavery and discrimination
through the eyes of a slave.
2. The Civil War: Why, Who, What, Where, When
$59.95
This two video set presents the main points of the Civil War by answering the
questions why, who, what, where and when. The videos are a great way to introduce the
students to the Civil War. Each tape starts with a list of essential vocabulary terms and
ends with a review that could be used as a short quiz. The first tape focuses on reasons
the war was fought while the second tape covers the leaders and the strategies that
influenced the events of the war.
3. The Game of Monopoly
$64.95
This two part program covers the rise of robber barons and industries that greatly
influenced the history of America. The videos cover important court cases, Roosevelt’s
regulation of big business and the formation of trusts.
4. The Red Scare: Ordinary Americans
$79.95
This video presents primary sources of 8 ordinary Americans accused of being
Communist sympathizers. The video presents file footage and quotes from the accused
eight. The students are the judges in each of these cases, were they fighting for their
American rights or fighting against American democracy? The video comes with lesson
plans and worksheets to be used during in conjunction with this video.
Enrichment Books
1. The Good Old Days- They Were Terrible!
$15.95
This book takes an anti-nostalgia view of American history between the Civil War
and WW I. The book presents the harsh realities of American life in this era. Some of
the topics include food, housing, pollution and health. This book can be a real eye opener
for students who possess a romanticized view of life during this era of American History.
2. American National Government: Institutions, Policy and Participation $ 54.81
This book takes a look at government concepts using the light of current issues to
illuminate the way. The book introduces the traditions that influenced the formation of
the American system of government, while examining the structure of the government.
The use of current events to probe the structure of the American government helps the
students to gain a perspective on the forces that influence governmental decisions.
Included in the price is a separate teacher’s guide.
Computer Programs
1. Understanding Media
$ 59.00
The CD-Rom is designed to help students develop skills needed to critically
analyze the media. The various lessons provide examples in the form of pictures,
photographs and news articles. By examining these real world examples students learn
the techniques used in media manipulation.
2. The Civil War Experience
$ 39.95
This CD-Rom allows the user to view eyewitness accounts of the civil war, video
clips, photographs, songs, and speeches. The CD-Rom contains printable text that could
be passed out to the class to aid in discussion of the material presented to the class. The
program includes trivia questions and the ability to search online civil war sites for
additional information.
Games and Simulations
1. We The People: A More Perfect Union
$ 39.00
This game allows students to role play the actual delegates of the Constitutional
Convention of 1787. Students develop and argue their views with other delegates. The
game is based on historical data and contains 57 character roles more than enough for any
class. The guidebook contains additional activities such as topics for debate and
vocabulary worksheets.
2. The US. History Superbowl Game: 1066 Questions in U.S. History
$ 19.50
This game is broken down into 20 different topics or eras of American history.
There are four teams in each game and they are asked a question allowed to discuss it and
any member may be called upon to answer the question. Many of the questions go
beyond rote memorization and require analysis and critical thinking skills.
Teaching and Learning Supplemental Books
1. The Cold War: A History in Documents
$ 30.00
This book contains hundreds of historical documents. Speeches, news articles,
cartoons and letters are a few of the primary sources found in this book. These sources
could be utilized in a lesson to do history not just learn history. These documents could
help students understand what it is that historians actually do.
2. United States History: Eyes on the Economy
$38.95
This book contains lessons designed to help students realize the connection
between the economy and major events in U.S. history. The lessons involve discussions
and help the students to develop critical thinking skills.
Learning Activities
1. The Cold War: 1945-1989
$ 10.95
This activity booklet presents reproducible reading on the cold war. The readings
are rather short, one to two pages, and are followed by fill-in –the black questions.
2. Operations Of The U.S. Government
$ 176.00
This transparency set covers many of the powers and limitations of the various
branches of the federal government. It discusses the theory behind the
government’s structure and how the government works in the real world. The set
contains 17 transparencies, 35 overlays and a guidebook. Some of the topics
include Presidential pardons and the CIA and FBI.
3. The Cold War: Decisions, Decisions
$ 149.95
This simulation game includes a CD-Rom and 28 student booklets, a teacher’s
guide and reproducible activity sheets. It is designed to teach actual historical
events while teaching the students the delicate task of foreign policy in a time of
nuclear weapons.
Total Budget = $ 918.86