These dynamic literature-based activities will help teachers energize the entire social studies curriculum and implement national (and state) standards. The author presents hundreds of "hands-on, minds-on" projects that actively engage students in positive learning experiences. Each of the 62 units offers book summaries, social studies topic areas, critical thinking questions, classroom resources, and lots of easy-to-do activities for every grade level. The author also provides practical guidelines for collaborative ventures with school librarians, tips for integrating literature across the curriculum, lists of relevant web sites useful in social studies education, and an up-to-date section of annotated bibliographies of the best in children's social studies literature. All titles are linked to national social studies standards. A chapter on the need for collaboration between the classroom teacher and the school librarian is included. Each individual unit also includes a section on one or more collaborative classroom/library projects. Grade levels are included. A "crossover" section points out how social studies literature can also be used to promote other aspects of the elementary curriculum.