How do we know about events that took place long before humans existed? By studying rocks and minerals, geologists can determine when and how changes to the Earth’s surface occurred. Rocks are clues on a scientific treasure hunt! These activities and experiments are from the book Rocks and Minerals: Get the Dirt on Geology (Inquire & Investigate) by Chris Eboch. Rocks and Minerals: Get the Dirt on Geology is a fun and informative introduction to the earth science happening beneath our feet, packed with hands-on science experiments and STEM research projects that help readers discover the amazing world of geology!

Jinnie Wishmaker can grant any living thing its one true wish. But somehow, the wishes always have a mind of their own. Download the Jinnie Wishmaker Teaching Guide: vocabulary, cause and effect chains, a crossword puzzle, instructions on making a Feeling Cube, and connections with other texts. Jinnie Wishmaker is Book #1 in the Magic Mayhem series by Deanna Roy.

Lesson plans for use with the historical drama, The Well of Sacrifice, for ages 9+, including Group Debate, Persuasive Letter, Discussion Questions, Art Projects, Journal Questions, and Team Projects. In The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan girl in ninth-century Guatemala rebels against the High Priest who sacrifices anyone challenging his power. Kirkus Reviews called The Well of Sacrifice, [An] engrossing first novel…. The novel shines not only for a faithful recreation of an unfamiliar, ancient world, but also for the introduction of a brave, likable and determined heroine.

Jesse Owens was an African American track and field athlete who won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics–making him the most successful athlete at the games. Resources include a book summary, about the author, CCSS standards applicable to the book, social studies standards, discussion questions, instructions for leading students in a Character Study, and additional books and websites. Jesse Owens: Young Record Breaker by M. M. Eboch is one of the fictionalized biographies in the Childhood of Famous Americans series. Events are based on history but scenes are written out with actions, dialogue, and thoughts that the author based on historical materials. This makes the book ideal for comparisons of nonfiction versus fiction and a discussion of facts versus opinions or an author’s interpretation.

Learn about the geologic timescale, volcanoes, earthquakes, water systems, erosion, conservation, and mapping. These projects could be used with #Googleexpeditions. Rocks and Minerals: Get the Dirt on Geology is a fun and informative introduction to the earth science happening beneath our feet, packed with hands-on science experiments and STEM research projects that help readers ages 12 to 15 discover the amazing world of geology! This teaching resource pulls activities from the book Rocks and Minerals: Get the Dirt on Geology. The projects can be used independently, but the book will provide insight into the scientific forces at work.

Lesson Plans related to The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery set in ancient Egypt for ages 9+, by Chris Eboch: Persuasive Letter Project, Persuasive Speech Projects, Art Projects, Theater Ideas, Discussion Questions, Team Projects, and Journal Questions. The Eyes of Pharaoh, set in Egypt in 1177 BC, brings an ancient world to life. When their friend disappears, Seshta and Horus spy on merchants, soldiers, and royalty. Can they stop the plot against Egypt in time? Ages 9+. “Mid School students and their teachers will love this fast paced mystery that has so much history and culture hidden in plain sight…. You won’t be able to put the book down until you learn what happens to the three friends.” “I teach a gifted class of fourth and fifth graders. Using this historical fiction has been a window into Ancient Egypt—its people, culture, and beliefs. My class enjoyed doing research on Egyptian gods and goddesses, and hieroglyphs. Projects extended their knowledge of this fascinating time and place. I also highly recommend it for its fast paced plot, interesting and “real” characters, and excellent writing.” - Suzanne Borchers

The Genie’s Gift middle grade novel draws on the mythology of The Arabian Nights. The Teaching Guide has discussion questions; character study questions; art, theater, and team projects; and persuasive speech or writing projects. The Genie’s Gift is a lighthearted action fantasy set in the fifteenth-century Middle East, drawing on the mythology of 1001 Arabian Nights. Shy Anise seeks the Genie Shakayak to claim the Gift of Sweet Speech. How will she get past a vicious she-ghoul, a sorceress who turns people to stone, and mysterious sea monsters, when she can’t even speak in front of strangers? For ages 9+.

The Eyes of Pharaoh is a middle grade mystery set in ancient Egypt. This story of drama and intrigue brings an ancient world to life. The Teaching Guide includes discussion questions; art, theater, and team projects; Persuasive Letter and Persuasive Speech projects; journal questions; Mind Maps, and a crossword puzzle. Teacher Suzanne Borchers said, “I teach a gifted class of fourth and fifth graders. Using this historical fiction has been a window into Ancient Egypt — its people, culture, and beliefs. My class enjoyed doing research on Egyptian gods and goddesses, and hieroglyphs. Projects extended their knowledge of this fascinating time and place. I also highly recommend it for its fast paced plot, interesting and “real” characters, and excellent writing.”

The Sweet Spot Teaching Guide has character study resources, projects about research and about writing opinion essays, and resources to learn about girls and baseball. The Sweet Spot, Book 1, by Stacy Barnett Mozer: When thirteen-year-old Sam Barrette’s baseball coach tells her that her attitude’s holding her back, she wants to hit him in the head with a line drive. Why shouldn’t she have an attitude? As the only girl playing in the 13U league, she’s had to listen to boys and people in the stands screaming things like “Go play softball,” all season, just because she’s a girl. Her coach barely lets her play, even though she’s one of the best hitters on the team.

Take young readers on an adventure to Arizona in the 1800s! Download The Ghost Miner’s Treasure teaching guide: discussion questions on topics from science to ethics, plus critical thinking, writing, and map-making projects. The Haunted series for ages 8-12 follows a brother and sister who travel with their parents’ ghost hunter TV show. They try to help the ghosts, while keeping their activities secret from meddling grownups. In The Ghost Miner’s Treasure, Jon and Tania travel with the ghost hunter TV show to the Superstition Mountains of Arizona, where the ghost of an old miner is still looking for his lost mine. The siblings want to help him move on — but to help him resolve the problem keeping him here, they’ll have to find the mine. And even then, the old ghost may be having too much fun to leave! It’s a good thing Tania can see and talk to him, because the kids will need his help to survive the rigors of a mule train through the desert, a flash flood, and a suspicious treasure hunter who wants the gold mine for himself. “Haunted is a fun read with some thrills and chills and has the added bonus of some genuine, compassionate personalities.” - School Library Journal