Historical fiction as a resource in social studies education

Abstract

The outcome of this study was the production of a handbook designed to foster and facilitate the use of children's historical fiction of high quality as a resource in social studies education. The literature on historical fiction was reviewed and a list of criteria of excellence drawn up to aid the selection of books for the handbook. The literature on social studies indicated a need for the handbook as a result of the current changes in the nature and emphasis of many social studies programs, while the literature on the nature of the relationship between historical fiction and social studies strongly supported the notion of using the former as a resource in teaching the latter. A procedure for creating the handbook was established and followed and the resulting piece of work introduces to teachers twenty-five books of historical fiction. It presents a rationale for the practice of combining literature and social studies and then gives extensive information about each book including readability level, themes, topics, concepts, periods, places and people to which it pertains, a detailed annotation, and an excerpt which the teacher can use to entice students to read the whole book. Literature suggested in the handbook is appropriate for grades four through twelve.