Connecting Literature to History

Here's one way I connect Reading/Listening Skills to our social studies topics. This read aloud is one I use when we begin to learn about the traits of a civilization. The main character in the book decides to create his own civilization during his summer holiday. As I read, I ask students to listen for all the things that fit with the traits that we study from our textbook.

The illustrations are wonderful and spur the imagination and the students always enjoy this story. It sparks great discussion of what makes a civilization and leads us into our study of Ancient Mesopotamia.