Middle Grades Social Science  5 to 9 

Printer icon Print

Annotated Bibliography

The annotated bibliography that follows includes basic references that you may find useful in preparing for the exam. Each resource is linked to the competencies and skills found in Section 3 of this guide.

This bibliography is representative of the most important and most comprehensive texts as reflected in the competencies and skills. The Florida Department of Education does not endorse these references as the only appropriate sources for review; many comparable texts currently used in teacher preparation programs also cover the competencies and skills that are tested on the exam.

  1. Allen, M. G., & Stevens, R. L. (1998). Middle grades social studies: Teaching and learning for active and responsible citizenship (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson Allyn & Bacon.

    Incorporates the National Council for Social Studies standards. Geared toward preparing students for active roles as citizens. Addresses the issue of teacher involvement in students' personal development. Useful for review of competency 5.

  2. Appleby, J. O., Brinkley, A., Broussard, A. S., McPherson, J. M., & Ritchie, D. A. (2009). The American journey. Columbus, OH: Glencoe McGraw-Hill.

    Presents American history from pre-exploration to the present. Emphasizes development of skills such as reading maps, analyzing primary and secondary sources, and recognizing the connections between history and geography, economics, government, citizenship, and current events. Useful for review of competency 1.

  3. Arreola, D. D., Deal, M S., Petersen, J. S., & Sanders, R. (2007). World geography. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell.

    Addresses physical geography, human geography, and major issues of a specific region of the world in each unit of the text. Includes large maps and numerous charts and graphs. Students are shown how to make comparisons between physical and human geography by exploring similarities and differences across cultures. Useful for review of competency 2.

  4. Beck, R. B. (2005). World history: Patterns of interaction. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell.

    Focuses on key concepts, themes, and patterns of interaction found throughout history. Includes first-hand accounts of history and document-based questions to help students develop and improve critical-thinking skills. Useful for review of competency 1.

  5. Bentley, J. H., & Ziegler, H. F. (2009). Traditions and encounters: A global perspective on the past. (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Explores the historical record of cross-cultural interactions and exchanges to provide a historical context for contemporary globalization. Helps students understand the world's major societies and shows how the interactions of these societies affect history. Useful for review of competency 1.

  6. Bergman, E., & Renwick, W. H. (2008). Introduction to geography: People, places, and environment (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

    Emphasizes that events are determined increasingly by interactions among people in various regions, and mapped patterns can be understood only by understanding the patterns of movement that create and continuously rearrange these regions. Introduces the major tools, techniques, and methodological approaches of the discipline and presents a wide range of positions on current issues. Useful for review of competency 2.

  7. Berman, L. & Murphy, B. (2007). Approaching democracy (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

    Addresses the evolving nature of the American experiment in democratic government. Introduces the theory and the basics of U.S. political science and the political history of the United States, and emphasizes the critical-thinking skills needed to analyze these evolving relationships. Useful for review of competency 3.

  8. Boehm, R. G., Armstrong, D. G., Hunkins, F. P., Reinhartz, D., & Lobrecht, M. (2005). The world and its people (Florida edition). New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill.

    A middle school program co-authored by National Geographic, which introduces students to an enriched view of the interrelationships of geography, history, economics, government, citizenship, and current events. Useful for review of competency 2.

  9. Brummett, P. J., Edgar, R. R., Hackett, N. J., Jewsbury, G. F., & Molony, B. S. (2006). Civilization past and present (11th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

    Examines social, political, economic, religious, cultural, and geographic aspects of world history. Uses images and documents to trace connections across cultures and introduce various avenues of historical interpretation. Useful for review of competency 1.

  10. Center for Civic Education. (2007). We the people: The citizen and the Constitution. Calabasas, CA: Author.

    Focuses on the history and principles of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights and is aligned with the National Standards for Civics and Government. Includes six units with 29 lessons that use critical-thinking exercises, cooperative learning practices, and a culminating authentic performance assessment. Useful for review of competency 3.

  11. Clawson, D. L., Johnson, M. L., Johnson, D., Haarman, V., Airriess, C. A., Argenbright, R. L., et al. (2007). World regional geography (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

    Covers the world's regions with narratives from 11 experts in their respective fields who are intimately familiar with their material through research, fieldwork, and teaching. Each author employs the central theme of human development to present an issues-oriented overview of the topic. Useful for review of competency 2.

  12. Clayton, G. E. (2008). Economics: Principles and practices. New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill.

    Covers the new economy and the impact of the digital revolution. Correlated to national standards and includes current statistics and news events as well as updated diagrams, charts, maps, photographs, and illustrations. Useful for review of competency 4.

  13. Colburn, D. R., & DeHaven-Smith, L. (2002). Florida megatrends: Critical issues in Florida. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida.

    Presents an overview of the forces that shaped Florida in the 20th century, the trends projected for the first quarter of this century, and how both will affect its future development. Covers politics, economics, history, sociology, and environmental issues. Useful for review of competencies 1, 3, and 4.

  14. Danzer, G. (2005). The Americans. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell.

    Examines daily life in different eras and emphasizes the influence of the past on the present. Includes reflections from people who experienced U.S. history firsthand. Useful for review of competency 1.

  15. deBlij, H. J., & Muller, P. O. (2005). Geography: Realms, regions, and concepts (12th ed.). New York: Wiley & Sons.

    Reflects major developments in the world as well as in the discipline, ranging from the collapse of Russia's post-Soviet transformation to the impact of globalization and from the rise of Asia's Pacific Rim to the war in Iraq. Useful for review of competency 2.

  16. Dye, T. R., & Sparrow, B. H. (2009). Politics in America (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

    Focuses on competition for resources and uses Harold Laswell's definition of politics—"Who gets what, when, and how"—as a framework for introducing the American political system. Useful for review of competency 3.

  17. Fellman, J. D., Getis, A., & Getis, J. (2008). Human geography (10th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

    Introduces students to human geography and its relevance to their lives. The authors seek to convey the breadth of human geography and to provide insight into the nature and intellectual challenges of the field of geography itself. Useful for review of competency 2.

  18. Gannon, M. (Ed.). (1996). The new history of Florida. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida.

    Each of this book's 22 chapters, which form a continuous narrative, was written especially for this work. The authors present not only political, economic, military, and religious information, but also social history and personal experiences. Each chapter includes endnotes and a bibliography. Useful for review of competency 1.

  19. Gannon, M. (2003). Florida: a short history (Rev. ed.). Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida.

    Relates the history of Florida, from indigenous peoples to modern environmentalists, in a chronological narrative. Includes sections on "in-migration," restoration of the Everglades, education, the work force, and the role of Florida in the 2000 presidential election. Useful for review of competency 1.

  20. Henretta, J. A., Brody, D., & Dumenil, L. (2009). America: A concise history (4th ed.). Boston: Bedford St. Martin's.

    Highlights the crucial turning points in U.S. history and explores the dynamic forces shaping each period. Emphasizes the student's need to understand both continuity and change in the history of the United States. Useful for review of competency 1.

  21. Irvin, J. L., Lunstrum, J. P., Lynch-Brown, C., & Shepard, M. F. (1995). Enhancing social studies through literacy strategies (NCSS Bulletin 91). Washington, DC: National Council for the Social Studies.

    Presents approaches and strategies for integrating literacy acquisition into social studies content and processes, for deepening student understanding of the social sciences, and for motivating students to read and write in the area of social studies. Useful for review of competency 5.

  22. Krugman, P., & Wells, R. (2006) Economics (1st ed.). New York: Worth.

    Takes a story-driven approach that focuses on real-world economics at work. Offers the hallmark clarity and engaging writing style. Useful for review of competency 4.

  23. Magleby, D. B., O'Brien, D. M., Light, P. C., Peltason, J. W., & Cronin, T. E. (2008). Government by the people (basic) (22nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

    An introduction to U.S. government and the discipline of political science. Seeks to make students effective participants in U.S. political culture by making them informed consumers of that culture. Useful for review of competency 3.

  24. Maxim, G. W. (2006). Dynamic social studies for constructivist classrooms (8th ed.). Boston: Pearson Allyn & Bacon.

    Illustrates the creation of a dynamic social studies classroom with a constructivist framework, key instructional approaches, and literacy-based pedagogy, text sets, activities, and classroom vignettes. Useful for review of competency 5.

  25. McClenaghan, W. A., & Magruder, F. A. (2008). Magruder's American government. Boston: Pearson Prentice Hall.

    Updated annually to meet the changing needs of high school students and teachers. The narrative is enhanced with numerous primary sources, political cartoons, charts, graphs, and photos. Useful for review of competency 3.

  26. McConnell, C. R., & Brue, S. L. (2008): Economics (17th ed.). New York: Worth.

    Helps the beginning student master the principles essential for understanding the economizing problem, specific economic issues, and the policy alternatives; helps the student understand and apply the economic issues and policy alternatives; helps the student understand and apply the economic perspective and reason accurately and objectively about economic matters; and promotes a lasting student interest in economics and the economy. Useful for review of competency 4.

  27. O'Connor, K., & Sabato, L. J. (2008). American government: Continuity and change (9th ed.). New York: Pearson Longman.

    Focuses on the idea that students must first understand how U.S. government developed to fully understand the issues facing the United States today. Covers both history and current events. Useful for review of competency 3.

  28. Rubenstein, J. M. (2008). The cultural landscape: An introduction to human geography (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

    Introduces geography as a social science by emphasizing the relevance of geographic concepts to human problems. The relationship between globalization and cultural diversity underlies the material. Useful for review of competency 2.

  29. Spielvogel, J. J. (2007). Journey across time: Early ages. New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill School.

    A middle school world history program organized chronologically from the first humans and ancient civilizations to the present. Useful for review of competency 1.

  30. Spielvogel, J. J. (2009). Western civilization (7th ed., vol. 2: Since 1500). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Thomson Learning.

    Weaves the political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, cultural, and military aspects of history into a narrative that includes a variety of pedagogical tools. Includes multiple maps and excerpts of primary documents. Useful for review of competency 1.

  31. Stearns, P. N., Adas, M., Schwartz, S. B., & Gilbert, M. J. (2007). World civilizations: The global experience (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

    Aims to present a truly global history, from the development of agriculture and herding to the present. The main periods of human history are divided according to changes in the nature and extent of global contacts. Useful for review of competency 1.

  32. Welton, D. A. (2005). Children and their world: Strategies for teaching social studies (7th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin College Division.

    Designed for preservice teachers, consolidates social studies content into a framework for practical instruction and lesson planning. Places social studies in a modern context and explores how such factors as language diversity and standards at the local, state, and national level affect teachers. Useful for review of competency 5.

 

Return to Navigation