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Dive into social studies with our vertically-aligned, literacy-supported Washington Series. Our inquiry-based resources support students and teachers in exploring civics, geography, economics, history, and culture. These standards-aligned, high-quality instructional materials are customizable and use Science of Reading techniques.

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Kindergarten

Exploring My Place in the World

With robust scaffolding and extensive literacy support for inquiry-based learning, Exploring My Place in the World introduces young learners to explorations of the world of social studies. An introduction to geography, history, economics, and civics is supported by extensive teacher-led engaging opportunities for exploration.
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1st Grade

Exploring My Communities

Through the lens of language acquisition support and literacy scaffolding, young learners continue their exploration of social studies topics in Exploring My Communities. Continued literacy scaffolding and social studies foundation development, driven by inquiry-based learning, encourage curious engagement with community and place. 
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2nd Grade

Exploring Near and Far

Multimodal student-first strategies and an emphasis on language practice and reading skill development expand student experiences with social studies in Exploring Near and Far. Geography, history, economics, and civics guide learners through extended skill development and learning strategies, spiraled for access by all learners.
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3rd Grade

The Pacific Northwest: Exploring Time and Place

A continued emphasis on and support for literacy provides practice with language and multimodal learning as students investigate discussions of social studies in Exploring Time and Place. Students will develop the foundation needed for their state history and social studies courses in fourth grade.

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4th Grade

Washington, Our Home

Explore a sample of the student edition.

A fourth-grade social studies program aligned to Washington's learning standards, Washington, Our Home is filled with thought-provoking images, timelines, maps, graphs, and charts. Content about the state’s government, geography, and economy are woven into the state’s history, making this a comprehensive exploration of the history of Washington.

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5th Grade

Shaping a Nation: A History of the United States From 1450 to 1865

The remarkable journey of the United States in its formative years is explored in Shaping a Nation. This comprehensive resource is enriched with vibrant maps and illustrations as well as engaging charts and photos. Filled with narratives of US history from the earliest beginnings to the Civil War, this resource combines narrative and curriculum to develop student understanding and critical thinking.
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6th Grade

Beyond Borders: World History to 1500 CE

Transporting readers from the beginnings of humanity and ancient civilizations all the way to the Age of Exploration, Beyond Borders offers readers a thoughtful and scaffolded journey around the world. Filled with vibrant maps, informative charts, captivating photos, and stunning illustrations, this world history resource allows students to  immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of world history from a multitude of perspectives.
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7th Grade

The Washington Journey

Explore a sample of the student edition.

Weaving together the history of Washington and the United States, The Washington Journey uses thought-provoking images, timelines, maps, charts, and graphs to guide students through the complex stories of the people, events, and land that have shaped who we are today. Students will develop and build upon both social studies skills and literacy skills as they connect to and reflect upon the lessons of the past to become active and engaged citizens of the future.

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8th Grade

An American Odyssey: US History From First Peoples to Industrialization

Explore the history of the United States from the convergence of Indigenous people, Europeans, and Africans in North America in An American Odyssey. Travel through the tumultuous Civil War, Reconstruction, and Gilded Age. The text includes a wealth of maps, charts, photos, and illustrations, and our curriculum spirals social studies skills and scaffolds literacy development. Students will engage with the rich history of the United States through the use of interdisciplinary materials to increase literacy and understanding.
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Movement: Black American History

Delve into Black American history through the lenses of migration, economics, inequality, leadership, and culture in Movement, including contributions and research from renowned Black scholars.
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Voices: An Ethnic Studies Survey

An ethnic studies resource, Voices supports student exploration and analysis of the impacts of culture, race, and ethnicity that have shaped our collective history.

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National Resources

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Beyond Borders: World History 1500 CE to Present

From the Age of Exploration to the Space Age, Beyond Borders supports readers in their journey through human history.
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Mosaic: Themes in Asian American Studies

Using stories, figures, and developments from diverse Asian American communities, Mosaic contemplates themes such as migration, oppression, identity, expression, joy, and resistance.
Who We Are

Who We Are: A History of the United States

With an engaging narrative that weaves geography, civics, economics, culture, and history together, Who We Are is a comprehensive study of the United States.
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Passages and Pathways, World Geography: Part 1

The dynamic relationships between humans and the land, exploring connections, divisions, and movements around the globe, are examined in Passages and Pathways.
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Passages and Pathways, World Geography: Part 2

The dynamic relationships between humans and the land, exploring connections, divisions, and movements around the globe, are examined in Passages and Pathways.
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Eras: World History to 500 CE

Transporting students from the beginnings of humanity and ancient civilizations all the way to the rise of early empires in India and China, Eras: World History to 500 CE offers readers a captivating journey around the world. 
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Eras: World History From 300 CE to 1770 CE

Take a fascinating journey through human history in Eras: World History From 300 CE to 1770 CE.
Building a Promise

Building a Promise: A History of the United States From 1865 to Present

Our second US history volume, Building a Promise, picks up where Shaping a Nation ends, guiding students through the stories of our nation from Reconstruction to the present.
Bridges & Boundaries

Bridges and Boundaries: World Geography

In this integrated discussion of geography, Bridges and Boundaries: World Geography provides a dynamic introduction to the interdependence of spatial thinking and global understanding. 
The Issue

The Issue

Thematic, consumable volumes designed to supplement your current social studies program, our multiyear volumes of The Issue engage students in critical thinking.
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Exploring Time and Place

A continued emphasis on and support for literacy provides practice with language and multimodal learning as students investigate discussions of social studies in Exploring Time and Place.
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La Gente: Themes in Latino Studies

Using stories, figures, and developments from diverse Latino communities, La Gente contemplates themes such as migration, oppression, identity, expression, joy, and resistance.
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Inquiry Arc, Timelines, and Visual Literacy

Each chapter provides an inquiry-based approach that focuses student learning through a “Big” or “Essential” question. The question is drawn from state-specific standards or standards from the C3 Framework for Social Studies and is supported by Key Ideas, Learning Goals, and Key Terms in each chapter. Activities throughout the text and curriculum are scaffolded and designed to build upon each other and to gain skills, as well as content knowledge. Each chapter opening spread also includes a timeline relevant to the content to be covered and a primary or secondary source image with an accompanying caption to engage students.

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Engaging Textbook Design

Every page of the text is designed to engage readers, featuring a variety of maps, images, graphs, charts, primary, and secondary sources that are grade-level appropriate. Many of the features found in the text provide opportunities to examine multiple perspectives for analysis and evaluation throughout, including the ability to express, clarify, justify, interpret, and represent their ideas and to respond to peer and teacher feedback orally and/or in written form. Students frequently engage meaningfully with complex texts and are able to see themselves in the content. Captions included with the visual features in the text include open-ended questions for students to consider, discuss, and debate. Maps, graphics, and sources throughout each chapter support an inquiry arc.

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Formative Assessments
After each lesson, students can check their understanding of the content and concepts they have studied. The assessment includes basic recall questions as well as critical thinking questions that are scaffolded to the Chapter Assessments. These checks for understanding allow for students to display a range of depth of knowledge and also include a self-assessment for students to reflect on their own learning and performance.
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Social Studies Skills Activities
These activities emphasize the skills historians use to understand and interpret history. Students employ historical-thinking skills to build understanding as well as make connections with historical concepts. They also have the opportunity to use skills like analysis, compare and contrast, contextualization, cause and effect, periodization, forming fact-based opinions, research, defending a position, and accurate chronicling historical events.
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Academic and Domain-Specific Vocabulary

The Key Terms within each lesson strengthen understanding of the grade-level content and vocabulary, often include activities to increase comprehension and retention, and feature many terms that can be used by students in other contexts.

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Primary Source Analysis
Each chapter includes at least one primary source activity. Questions are scaffolded, allowing students to build confidence and skill as they explore, examine, evaluate, and interpret primary and secondary sources to understand historical concepts and make connections to the world around them.

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The Journal

The Journal examines the impact of strong cultures and communities on student learning. It underscores the connection between service and education, and their combined role in student development. New blogs and complimentary lesson plans are released bi-weekly. Subscribe for instant access.

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GSEonline

All-in-one platform offering seamless access to Gibbs Smith Education eBooks and advanced study features. Our digital platform offers access to your programs including student and teacher-facing materials.

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Professional Learning

Our professional learning program is designed to empower educators with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to build and sustain strong school cultures and communities that foster academic achievement, character development, and community stewardship.

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