Booksmarts

We use a systemic approach. A good example of this method is illustrated by the diagram on town growth. Town growth exploded between the years 1000 and 1300. Do you know why? Click on the link titled "Systemic example:the towns" on your right.

This textbook is written to precisely meet the Ontario Social Studies Curriculum Outcomes for grade 4.The first part covers the Middle Ages. The second part covers the provinces and territories of Canada.

The SYSTEMIC, INTEGRATIVE APPROACH
to teaching social studies:

Instead of giving students disjointed facts to remember, we show them causal relationships. We keep asking “why?” and making connections.

Why did towns grow quickly in Europe after the year 1000?
Why do we have so many Germanic traditions in our Christmas celebrations?
Why where Muslim people so educated in the first millennium?
Why was there a “Renaissance”?
Why should we care about history?

We set the stage for the Middle Ages with a snapshot of the Roman Empire at its height, and then its fall.

Then we cover the governance, social organization, culture, technology, daily life and the legacy of each of the critical periods that make up the Middle Ages.

The Middle Ages are vitally important to us today. This is the time when the countries of Western Europe are born. Much of our culture, values, religious beliefs and science (our Holy Grail!), were shaped from or in reaction to those of the Middle Ages.

We teach students how to think.This book uses a different methodology. While it meets all the curriculum outcomes, is written in clear, very straightforward English and is immediately accessible to the young reader, it is structured so the student understands WHY things happened, as implied by its series title: "WHY THINGS ARE". We ask "WHY" and make connections. We use a systemic approach, as illustrated by the diagram on town growth between the years 1000 and 1300 which you can open by clicking on the link titled "Systemic example:the towns" to your right.

Understanding the causes allows readers to make predictions, helping them anticipate and assimilate new knowledge faster and more deeply. Students make connections and walk away with something they will keep. We set the stage for the Middle Ages with a snapshot of the Roman Empire at its height, and then its fall. Then we cover the governance, social organization, culture, technology, daily life and the legacy of each of the critical periods that make up the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages are vitally important to us today. This is the time when the countries of Western Europe are born. Much of our culture, values, religious beliefs and science (our Holy Grail!), were shaped from or in reaction to those of the Middle Ages. THIS BOOK IS NOT JUST ABOUT HISTORY. IT IS OUR STORY.

Cover both curriculum strands with one affordable textbook specifically designed for the Ontario Social Studies Curriculum!

Overall and specific curriculum expectations are described for each activity.

Click on the preview buttons to your right to open free sample pages from the textbook.