The Old Fort at St. Augustine

While reading The Old Fort at St. Augustine, students will learn about the fort that has undergone many battles, victories, and restorations. This 32-page title uses a variety of teaching components to help young readers strengthen their reading comprehension skills. The Symbols of Freedom series will allow students to explain events or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause versus effect. Each title features photographs, maps, and informational sidebars that work with a Show What You Know section to help readers build their understanding of the topic.

While reading The Old Fort at St. Augustine, students will learn about the fort that has undergone many battles, victories, and restorations. This 32-page title uses a variety of teaching components to help young readers strengthen their reading comprehension skills.

A fun, informative venue for learning about significant places in U.S. history. Clear, engaging writing and a dynamic, easy-to-follow layout go far to explain the significance of each symbol and its place in American history. Occasional “Freedom Fact!” sidebars call readers' attention to incidental details (for instance, the first public school in America, the Boston Latin School, “admitted only boys for more than 300 years. Girls couldn't attend the school until 1972!”). The inclusion of the fort at St. Augustine and Angel Island is especially useful, as typically these important landmarks receive scant coverage in children's literature. Star-spangled borders and neatly framed illustrations prettify the presentation. “Before Reading” and “After Reading” questions and activities in each title make these natural choices for use in the classroom. Though the content is strong, the series title is misleading; some readers may find “Symbols of Freedom” an odd or even inappropriate label for locations such as the World Trade Center or Angel Island. VERDICT Solid options.

The Old Fort at St. Augustine has undergone many battles and restorations, but has never fallen! The fort, which served alternately as both a shelter and a prison, also symbolizes the struggles of settlers and Native Americans as a new, united nation was forged. Interesting facts about the structure of the fort, how to visit, and all the prominent people it has held as prisoners or people seeking refuge are all included with interested fact boxes, pictures with captions, and timelines of the fort’s history. This book will allow students to describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.