Children’s Literature Study
Choose a piece of children’s literature pertinent to the History-Social Science standard(s) in your unit plan. Before beginning the assignment, review the Children’s Literature Database to see examples of books that can support history, geography, economics, civics, culture, and other social studies themes.
Addressed Standards
- TPE 1: Engaging and Supporting All Students in Learning
- TPE 3: Understanding and Organizing Subject Matter for Student Learning
- NCATE Standard 1: Candidate Knowledge, Skills and Dispositions
Connect the book to standards and themes
Identify the History-Social Science standard(s) and the social studies concepts or themes the book can help students investigate.
Develop an essential question
Write a question that focuses learning and encourages students to think beyond simple recall.
Summarize the book
Explain the content clearly enough to show how the text supports the historical or social science focus.
Plan before, through, and after reading
Prepare students with needed background knowledge, explain how you will relay the text’s content, and design a meaningful post-reading activity that asks students to apply their learning.
Write discussion questions
Develop questions that address the book’s content and help students understand the larger standards and social studies themes.
Connect literacy standards
Identify the ELA/ELD standards addressed by the study and list them verbatim on the form.
Interactive Literature Study Lesson Builder
Build your thinking one step at a time: Standard → Skills → Concepts → DOK → Book & Theme → Essential Question → Before Reading → Discussion → Post-Reading Application.
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This builder is for planning and preparation. Keep a downloaded copy of important work and transfer your final responses to the official Literature Study Form.
View the Literature Study rubric (10 points)
| Criteria | Meets Expectations | Approaches Expectations | Below Expectations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme and Standards 3 points |
Applies State Standards and National Social Studies themes to a picture book and develops essential questions that focus student learning. | State Standards and themes are identified. The essential question is related to the themes and standards but does not provide enough focus for learning and instruction. 2 points | No clear connection between State Standards, themes, and the literature. The essential question is missing or unrelated. 1 point |
| Summary and Preparation 3 points |
Provides a clear summary and explains how students will be prepared to read the text. Pre-reading activities provide the historical or social studies background needed to understand the standards or themes developed in the reading. | Provides a summary, but the pre-reading activity does not give enough context or background for students to understand the historical or social science implications. 2 points | The summary is missing or inadequate for understanding the historical implications of the reading. 1 point |
| Lesson and Discussion 4 points |
Explains how the content will be relayed to students. Discussion questions address both the literature and larger social studies themes. The post-reading activity asks students to understand and apply the standards and theme and includes both a written component and a handout explaining the activity. | Includes a lesson and discussion questions, but the activity or questions support understanding without asking students to apply their learning. The post activity includes only a written description or a handout, rather than both. 2.5 points | Details about how students will read or discuss the literature are missing. The post activity is superficial or inadequate, and students are not asked to apply their learning meaningfully. 1 point |