Children's Lit for 5th (& 4th)

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Home : 2001 : July : 14

Children's Lit for 5th (& 4th)
By JES

Joy,
I've made a pledge to myself for the coming year. I'm determined to read aloud historical fiction with my 5th graders this year because I believe it is the best way for them to create an image of "the way things
were." I think that's what you had in mind, too, when you posted your request. Right now I am trying to put together a list of appropriate texts to reinforce concepts related to soc.st. and sci. I don't have that list with me, but I will post some of those as soon as I can.
In the meantime, here's a list of author's and books I've read and used with 4th & 5th graders. It's a list

I posted in response to a ProTeacher.com request for adventure books suitable for 5th, but many of them would be appropriate for soc. st. as well.

GARY PAULSEN:
(Hatchet series -- survival) Hatchet, Brian's Winter, The River
(Mr. Tucket series -- adventure set in pioneer/wagon train days) Mr. Tucket, Call Me Francis Tucket, etc.

BILL WALLACE:
Danger at Panther Peak
Trapped in Death Cave
Danger in Quicksand Swamp
The Eye of the Great Bear (This may not be the exact title.)

WILL HOBBS:
Maze
Jason's Gold
River Thunder (and many more)

PEG KEHRET:
Earthquake Terror
Terror at the Zoo (and probably many more)
Volcano Terror (Mount St. Helens)

ROLAND SMITH:
Sasquatch (search for Sasquatch near Mount St. Helens -- loose tie-in)
Jaguar

KRISTIANA GREGORY:
Dear America: Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie The Oregon Trail diary of Hattie Campbell -- 1847

LUCY BLEDSOE:
Tracks in the Snow

KATHLEEN KARR:
The Great Turkey Walk (set in 1860)

ELIZABETH VAN STEENWYK:
A Traitor Among Us

ELISA LYNN CARBONE
Stealing Freedom (Underground Railroad)

SID FLEISCHMAN:
Bandit"s Moon

Also you could go on amazon.com and search for historical fiction or non-fiction in 9-12 year-old range. I found a huge list of historical fiction that I am currently trying to wade through! Hope this is helpful. I'll post another list as soon as I organize the titles a little better.
Elaine