Jennifer E. Lawson, PhD, is the creator of the Hands-On books published by Portage & Main Press. As senior writer and editor for the series, she has contributed to more than 50 publications for teachers and students. Jennifer provides professional development workshops for educators locally, nationally, and virtually, and is a Workplace Wellness Advisor. Her most recent book is a collective effort called Teacher, Take Care: A Guide to Well-Being and Workplace Wellness for Educators. She is also one of the founders of Mission to Mexico, an organization that supports schools in some of the most impoverished communities in Puerto Vallarta. Throughout her extensive career in education, Jennifer has worked as a classroom teacher, resource and special education teacher, consultant, principal, university instructor, and school trustee. She lives with her family in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

• Introduction to Hands-On Social Studies 1Program Introduction 1 What Is Social Studies? 1 Topics of Study in the Hands-On Social Studies Program 1 Program Principles 2 Program Implementation 2 Classroom Environment 3 Planning Units (Time Lines) 3 Classroom Management 3 Social Studies Skills: Guidelines for Teachers 4 Assessment Plan 7The Hands-On Social Studies Assessment Plan 7 Assessment Sheets 9 Unit 1: Our Local Community 19Books for Children 20 Web Sites 21 Introduction 22 1 Ongoing Activities 23 2 Our Community’s Location in the World 25 3 Features of Our Community 30 4 Rural and Urban Communities 34 5 Our Community’s Natural Environment 38 6 Jobs in Our Community 43 7 How Weather Affects Our Community 47 8 My Family Is Special 54 9 Cultural Groups in Our Community 58 10 Elders’ Stories 63 11 The Early History of Our Community 68 12 Our Community Through the Years 76 13 Community Leaders 80 14 Rights, Responsibilities, and Rules 84 15 Culminating Activities 88 References for Teachers 89 Unit 2: Communities in Canada: Lunenburg 91Books for Children and References for Teachers 92 Web Sites 93 Introduction 94 1 Ongoing Activities 95 2 Lunenburg’s Location in Canada 96 3 Introducing Lunenburg 99 4 Lunenburg’s Population 101 5 Comparing Lunenburg and the Local Community 107 6 Buildings of Old Lunenburg 112 7 Goods Produced, and Jobs in Lunenburg 115 8 The Natural Environment: The Atlantic Ocean 118 9 History of Lunenburg: The Mi’kmaq People 122 10 History of Lunenburg: Settlement 132 11 History of Lunenburg: Bluenose and Bluenose II 135 12 Culminating Activities: What We Learned About Lunenburg 138 13 Studying Other Canadian Communities 143 Fact Sheet: Skidegate, British Columbia 144 Fact Sheet: Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan 145 Fact Sheet: Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories 146 Unit 3: The Canadian Community 147Books for Children 148 Web Sites 149 Introduction 150 1 Ongoing Activities 151 2 What Is Canada? 161 3 Canadian Symbols 165 4 Aboriginal, Francophone, and English Influences in Canada 170 5 Canada’s Two Official Languages 178 6 Canadian Artists 184 7 Needs and Wants of Canadians 188 8 Canada’s Global Connections 193 9 Canadian Celebrations 197 10 Culminating Activities 206 References for Teachers 209

Jennifer E. Lawson, PhD, is the creator of the Hands-On books published by Portage & Main Press. As senior writer and editor for the series, she has contributed to more than 50 publications for teachers and students. Jennifer provides professional development workshops for educators locally, nationally, and virtually, and is a Workplace Wellness Advisor. Her most recent book is a collective effort called Teacher, Take Care: A Guide to Well-Being and Workplace Wellness for Educators. She is also one of the founders of Mission to Mexico, an organization that supports schools in some of the most impoverished communities in Puerto Vallarta. Throughout her extensive career in education, Jennifer has worked as a classroom teacher, resource and special education teacher, consultant, principal, university instructor, and school trustee. She lives with her family in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

• Introduction to Hands-On Social Studies 1Program Introduction 1 What Is Social Studies? 1 Topics of Study in the Hands-On Social Studies Program 1 Program Principles 2 Program Implementation 2 Classroom Environment 3 Planning Units (Time Lines) 3 Classroom Management 3 Social Studies Skills: Guidelines for Teachers 4 Assessment Plan 7The Hands-On Social Studies Assessment Plan 7 Assessment Sheets 9 Unit 1: Our Local Community 19Books for Children 20 Web Sites 21 Introduction 22 1 Ongoing Activities 23 2 Our Community’s Location in the World 25 3 Features of Our Community 30 4 Rural and Urban Communities 34 5 Our Community’s Natural Environment 38 6 Jobs in Our Community 43 7 How Weather Affects Our Community 47 8 My Family Is Special 54 9 Cultural Groups in Our Community 58 10 Elders’ Stories 63 11 The Early History of Our Community 68 12 Our Community Through the Years 76 13 Community Leaders 80 14 Rights, Responsibilities, and Rules 84 15 Culminating Activities 88 References for Teachers 89 Unit 2: Communities in Canada: Lunenburg 91Books for Children and References for Teachers 92 Web Sites 93 Introduction 94 1 Ongoing Activities 95 2 Lunenburg’s Location in Canada 96 3 Introducing Lunenburg 99 4 Lunenburg’s Population 101 5 Comparing Lunenburg and the Local Community 107 6 Buildings of Old Lunenburg 112 7 Goods Produced, and Jobs in Lunenburg 115 8 The Natural Environment: The Atlantic Ocean 118 9 History of Lunenburg: The Mi’kmaq People 122 10 History of Lunenburg: Settlement 132 11 History of Lunenburg: Bluenose and Bluenose II 135 12 Culminating Activities: What We Learned About Lunenburg 138 13 Studying Other Canadian Communities 143 Fact Sheet: Skidegate, British Columbia 144 Fact Sheet: Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan 145 Fact Sheet: Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories 146 Unit 3: The Canadian Community 147Books for Children 148 Web Sites 149 Introduction 150 1 Ongoing Activities 151 2 What Is Canada? 161 3 Canadian Symbols 165 4 Aboriginal, Francophone, and English Influences in Canada 170 5 Canada’s Two Official Languages 178 6 Canadian Artists 184 7 Needs and Wants of Canadians 188 8 Canada’s Global Connections 193 9 Canadian Celebrations 197 10 Culminating Activities 206 References for Teachers 209