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Global Issues |
Social Studies
(Photo Essays) |
Language Arts
(Stories) |
History
(Biographies) |
Math |
Science |
| Arctic |
On Thin Ice |
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Below Zero |
Beating the Cold |
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Learn how global climate changes are affecting polar bears’ icy home.
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Michael
has some new four-legged friends. He
shows
responsibility as he
cares for the huskies during a winter
adventure in the Arctic
ice and snow. |
Traditional
tale
Long ago, Raven gave
the Inuit people a song. Then the song
was forgotten, and the people lost respect for
their land. Angry Raven stole the sun
to punish the people. |
Who were the first
explorers to reach the North Pole?
Read about Robert Peary, Matthew
Henson, and the Inuit who traveled with
them in the Arctic. Find out how teamwork helped
them win the race to the North Pole. |
Make estimates and calculations
related to Arctic animal populations and
behavior.
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Surviving in the freezing
Arctic requires special adaptations to
an animal’s structure.
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| Australia |
New Places, New Faces |
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Surviving the Odds |
Only in Australia
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Some people leave their homeland to live in Australia. Learn about immigration and cultural diversity in their
new neighborhood. |
Rebeca doesn't
go to school. Instead, it comes to her
over the radio for an hour a day. For
the rest of the time, Rebeca shows
her commitment to learning
as she continues with her
schoolwork on her own. |
Contemporary
story
Blake travels to outback Australia
with his uncle and friends. Along
the way, he sees many new sights
and learns the value of friendship. |
Who is Cathy Freeman? Why
was she chosen to light the flame
at the Sydney Olympic Games?
Read about the perseverance of this champion athlete. |
Work with graphs and charts
of data related to endangered Australian
animals.
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Investigate how Australian
animals, such as marsupials, have adapted
to their environment.
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| China |
Where the Money Is |
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Magic Squares and More
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The Greatest Wall of All
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Read about how people in many parts of the world move from rural areas to cities, and how this leads to social change.
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People
catch fish with poles and nets, but
have you ever seen them fishing with
birds? When Kun Yi goes fishing with
his father, he learns to respect and follow
the ways of the past.
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Traditional
tale
Even when she was feeling sad and alone
in the world, Yeh Hsien showed kindness to
the creatures around her. She
was rewarded when a beautiful,
golden fish became her friend.
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Who is Li Cunxin?
Why did his
teacher choose him to move
to the city and train to become
a ballet dancer? Read how his
determination to succeed
led to a career as a world-famous
ballet dancer. |
Investigate
mathematical inventions from China, including
the magic square and the abacus.
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Examine
the use of tools, pulleys, weights, arches,
and ramps in ancient building.
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| Costa Rica |
Keeping the Balance |
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Rainforest Math
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Fire and Ash
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Learn about ecotourism, wildlife, and how people are trying to help the environment.
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Laura visits orphaned sloths
in a sanctuary in Costa Rica. She
learns how kindness can help the
baby sloths. She also learns the
importance of caring for animals. |
Contemporary fiction
Rafael and Marie are happy to
take part in the Día del Boyero,
or Oxcart Driver's Day parade.
Family teamwork makes this
special day a huge success.
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Who was Juan Santamaria? Why
are there statues of him in towns
in Costa Rica? Here is the exciting
story of the drummer boy whose
courage made him a national hero.
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Use facts and figures about
animals of the rainforest to solve problems.
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Evaluate the causes and
effects of Costa Rica’s different
types of active volcanoes.
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India |
No Space to Waste |
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Keeping Count
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Tiger Trek
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Read about how people are solving the problem of overcrowding and overpopulation
in India.
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Bomman lives in a village
in southern India where people
take great responsibility for their
elephants. Meet Bomman's best
friend Mudumalai and find out
how Bomman takes care of him.
Then learn a little about life
in India.
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Traditional
tale
Raji the jackal has always wanted
to be different and special. His
chance comes, but he learns from
his foolishness that loyalty is
important. |
Who
was Mother Teresa? Why was she admired
by people all over
the world? Read about the woman
whose compassion helped
change many people’s lives. |
Explore
ancient number systems from India that
form the basis of the numbers we use
today.
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Learn about the people working
to save the Indian tiger and its habitat.
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Pacific Islands |
Brain Drain |
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Fiji Facts and Figures
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Cities Below the Sea
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A place with golden beaches might sound lovely, but what if there are few jobs there? Learn about emigration from
the Islands.
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Kayne is a Cook Island boy.
He is having his hair cut for the first
time. Join Kayne and his family
on his special day. Then learn
how many Pacific Island people
respect the ways of the
past. |
Contemporary
fiction
Mata’s mother is very unhappy
when she first moves to a new
country. However, with the
kindness of family and
friends she begins to enjoy her new life. |
Who
was Captain James Cook?
What did he do? Read about
Captain Cook’s incredible voyages
and find out how his perseverance made
him famous.
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Use mathematics to discover
why the Pacific Island of Fiji is a popular
place for vacations.
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Study the diverse relationships
among species in a coral-reef habitat.
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South Africa |
Our Place, Their Place |
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Perfect Patterns |
Earth's Riches |
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People are not the only living things on Earth, but we take up a lot of space. Discover how people respect and share land with wildlife.
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Thandi lives
in a South African village. Her mother
makes beautiful artwork that tells stories
about the village, its people, and
its traditions. Read how Thandi
learns to respect the ways of
the past.
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Contemporary fiction
Mark lives in a national park with
his father, the park ranger. Being
near wild animals is fun; however,
Mark discovers that it is also a
big responsibility.
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Who is Nelson Mandela? Why was
he kept in prison for 27 years?
Read about the man whose courage brought freedom to millions
of people in South Africa.
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Identify shapes, patterns,
and symmetry in designs that decorate South
Africa.
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Investigate rocks, minerals,
crystals, and gems, their sources,
properties, uses, and classification.
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