Magic Tree House Research Guides/Fact Trackers

Description

Research guides are available for quite a few of the books in the Magic Tree House series. These guides are digest-sized and similar in format to the books. However, they are non-fiction and aim to teach children more about the topic touched upon in the book. For example, in the book Mummies in the Morning, Jack and Annie travel to Ancient Egypt and help the ghost of Queen Hutepi find her book of the dead so she can continue on into the afterlife. In the companion research guide, Mummies and Pyramids, the chapters detail Ancient Egypt, everyday life, Egyptian religion, mummies, Egyptian funerals, the age of pyramids, tomb treasures and tomb robbers, the most famous mummy of all, and gifts of the pyramids and mummies. The chapters are written in simple language for children, yet they provide readers with a wealth of knowledge. These chapters are slightly longer than the ones in the books, and Jack and Annie are still present in the illustrations and to provide small tidbits of information to readers. The guides have more pictures than the books do, with photos and pictures of important objects. At the end of each guide are a few pages to guide students in further research of the topic. Entertaining and informative, these guides aim to capture the interest of the reader while opening the door to further study. Please note that some of the guides may contain some evolutionary material; for example, the Space research guide talks about the birth of the universe, and the guide states that "while no one know for sure what happened, many scientists believe in the Big Bang Theory..." etc, but mostly they are just factual guides. - Melissa

Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.