Must Read Mentor Text-Social Studies, freebie, and giveaway

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you are having a fantastic weekend!  I'm linking up with Collaboration Cuties for their Must Read Mentor Text linky.

It is the fourth Sunday of the month, so that means we need to pick a social studies mentor text. In Pennsylvania, a major part of the fourth grade curriculum is studying the state. To make the study a little more meaningful I have my students create an ABC book about the state of Pennsylvania. In order to introduce the project to them, I read them the book, K is for Keystone by Kristen Kane.

 

This book is a wonderfully written ABC picture book that shares facts about the state of PA. It shares facts in an interesting way with wonderful illustrations. My students enjoy the book, and it really helps them understand what their own ABC book should look like when they are finished.

You can download the project plan sheet as well as my grading sheet here. It is a word document so you can edit it to fit your state. I take quarter one of my school year and teach them all about PA. The students then take what they have learned in class, as well as what they research on their own, to create their ABC books. Here are a few cover shots of the finished products:

What are your favorite mentor texts to use when you teach social studies? 

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