Lauren Kirkpatrick, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, (919) 513-1829
Chad Austin, News Services, (919) 515-3470
Nov. 29, 2007
A new series of social studies textbooks involving North Carolina State University faculty members aims to take elementary and middle-school students on a journey to explore their state, nation and world.
"North Carolina Journeys" is a textbook series designed for fourth- through seventh-grade students developed by faculty members from NC State's College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS), as well as other scholars and educators from across the state. The series also includes an eighth-grade text written by North Carolina scholar Pamela Grundy. The series takes students on a literal journey across North Carolina and beyond by highlighting key people, places and events in the state's history, while emphasizing North Carolina's connections to the global world.
"The series is custom-built for North Carolina," says Dr. Jim Clark, professor emeritus of English at NC State, who was involved in the textbook project. "It emphasizes reading and assessment – especially the end-of-grade tests and the North Carolina writing assessments. It also addresses the needs of students who are not native English-speakers."
The series addresses the goals outlined in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for social studies education for each grade level. Through the use of colorful, engaging layouts and creative approaches to present material, students are encouraged to learn and develop critical thinking skills about the world around them and their place in it.
Students in sixth grade studying South America and Europe, for example, would learn about the history and geography of those regions through the eyes of a fellow sixth-grader from North Carolina, whose personal "travel diaries" are recorded in the textbook to supplement key historical facts and figures. Interactive activities, historical timelines, online support materials and short biographies of people from the past and present help the curriculum come alive for the students.
Gibbs Smith, Publisher, a company specializing in producing social studies textbook programs, is printing and marketing the books to school districts in North Carolina. If districts adopt the textbook, they would be in classrooms for students beginning in the fall of 2008.
"CHASS and NC State – in cooperation with the publisher – are providing an invaluable educational service to the people of North Carolina," says Dr. Toby Parcel, dean of NC State's College of Humanities and Social Sciences. "We need to prepare our children for the global age by educating them about the world's cultures, geography and history. Through 'North Carolina Journeys,' NC State will have a significant impact on children for years to come."
"North Carolina Journeys" is a revitalization of a previous textbook project involving NC State. In the late 1990s, the CHASS Humanities Extension Program published a series of social studies textbooks titled, "Living in Our World." Written and reviewed by hundreds of North Carolina educators and scholars, the "Living in Our World" series was used in more than 70 percent of fourth through seventh grade classrooms across the state. The series was revised, but never printed, in 2002.
When Gibbs Smith, Publisher was developing its eighth grade North Carolina history textbook, the company learned of the "Living in Our World" project and teamed with NC State to bring new life to the series, which resulted in "North Carolina Journeys."
For more information about the project, visit www.ncjourneys.com.
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NC State University News Services (919) 515-3470 or newstips@ncsu.edu