From Unit Plan: The People and Places Around Us

The following literature and professional resources are helpful for studies of neighborhoods, communities, and different cultures.

These are the books available in the Teacher Store.

A House Is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Betty Fraser
Myriad houses are described in fun, rhyming text.

Classroom Tip: Use this book as a read aloud to introduce the concept of "habitats." Students will learn how each house is unique.

Multicultural Fables & Fairytales by Tara McCarthy
Introduce students to other cultures with classic tales from Japan, Ghana, Brazil, and more.

Classroom Tip: Throughout this unit, select one culture per day to share with students during read aloud story time.

How a House Is Built by Gail Gibbons
Brief Description: Follow the steps of how a house is built in this book.
Quick Tip for Using Book in Classroom: Expand the concept of being an architect in Lesson One and introduce all the different people and jobs involved in building a home.

Exploring Our World: Neighborhoods & Communities by Kathleen M. Hollenbeck
Resource guide for teaching lessons about neighborhoods and communities

Classroom Tip: Use this resource guide for mapping activities and student reproducibles.

Maps for the Overhead: Neighborhoods & Communities: 10 Color Transparencies, Mini-Lessons, and Activities That Teach Essential Map Skills
These three collections of full-color transparencies, accompanied by mini-lessons and activities, teach young students how to read a map and map key, find directions using a compass rose, navigate a floor plan, interpret symbols, and more.

Classroom Tip: Use this professional book for mapping activities.

You Might Find This Book in Your Library:

So Many Circles, So Many Squares by Tana Hoban
The geometric shapes of circles and squares are illustrated with photographs of wheels, pots, signs, and other familiar objects.

Classroom Tip: Read this book during Lesson One to help further the concept of finding a variety of shapes in the exterior view of a home.