by Workman Publishing P
- Age Range: 11 - 14 years
- Grade Level: 6 - 8
- Series: Big Fat Notebooks
- Paperback: 512 pages
- Publisher: Workman Publishing Company; Study Guide edition (August 9, 2016)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0761160833
- ISBN-13: 978-0761160830
- Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
Everything You Need to Ace American History . . . covers Native Americans to the war in Iraq. There are units on Colonial America; the Revolutionary War and the founding of a new nation; Jefferson and the expansion west; the Civil War and Reconstruction; and all of the notable events of the 20th century—World Wars, the Depression, the Civil Rights movement, and much more.
The BIG FAT NOTEBOOK™ series is built on a simple and irresistible conceit—borrowing the notes from the smartest kid in class. There are five books in all, and each is the only book you need for each main subject taught in middle school: Math, Science, American History, English Language Arts, and World History. Inside the reader will find every subject’s key concepts, easily digested and summarized: Critical ideas highlighted in neon colors. Definitions explained. Doodles that illuminate tricky concepts in marker. Mnemonics for memorable shortcuts. And quizzes to recap it all.
The BIG FAT NOTEBOOKS meet Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and state history standards, and are vetted by National and State Teacher of the Year Award–winning teachers. They make learning fun, and are the perfect next step for every kid who grew up on Brain Quest.
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Gr 5–8—Billing itself as a comprehensive study guide, this book has the appearance and content of a good set of student notes. Pages are ruled like notebook paper, and the font looks like hand printing. Chronological "units," divided into shorter chapters, closely follow the content arrangement of many American history texts, from the earliest human inhabitants of North America to the Iraq War and Obama's election. Rothman summarizes the main concepts and details of the themes, events, and important people and dates of U.S. history, devoting about a paragraph to each topic. The limited interpretation and analysis are consistent with mainstream historical thought and scholarship. Organization is student-friendly, with headings in green type, key history information in blue, and yellow-highlighted general vocabulary terms that are defined in adjacent boxes. Sidebars provide limited supplemental information, and there are numerous maps but no index. The few illustrations look like student doodles and usually have a humorous take on history. "Check Your Knowledge" questions end each chapter and are answered on following pages. More textbook content-oriented than various editions of Kenneth C. Davis's "Don't Know Much" series overviews of American history, this book is exactly what it claims to be—a study guide. More volumes, covering science, world history, and other subjects, are publishing simultaneously—all titles meet Common Core State Standards. VERDICT Best suited for students looking to sharpen history skills and bolster their confidence.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Public Schools, MO
