History’s Mystery Graded Readers bring controversies in history to life! Students are presented with the facts and the context of important or interesting questions about history. They are exposed to theories and evidence for or against, as well as resources to do their own research. Then they can present their take in a variety of creative or informative forms!
With texts that are graded to a middle-school level, these books make history accessible and interesting, while teaching analytical and critical thinking skills, and presenting opportunities for creative output
Check out all seven titles or explore our larger compilation of 40 mysteries and controversies. Keep reading to learn more about these resources by taking a deeper look at The Legacy of Genghis Khan: Barbarian or Reformer by Mina Gavell!
A brief teaser grabs the reader and presents the mystery, the interesting aspect of this part of history. Students are engaged immediately! In this case, the question is how we talk about historical figures who have engaged in terrible activities, but also benefited humanity! Genghis Khan is known as a brutal conqueror, but also a wise emperor. Beyond learning about the Mongolian Emperor, students will explore the question of how bias informs the writing of history!
The introduction gives key information and context. Questions help them frame the topic in perspective! This is a great way to figure out what students already know about the topic, as well as they may want to know!
The heart of the book is a fact-based account of the event, or in this case a biography of the key person, Genghis Khan. Important moments and events are detailed and illustrated with historical photographs and images of key figures, locations, and events. This includes art, documents, or artifacts from the time. There are also photographs of the locations in the modern day to give a sense of change. Tables, diagrams, timelines, and maps are also included to make the information easier to understand!
Additional information to help students understand the events or the historical context are placed in sidebars or separate sections. For example, there is an overview of some of the tribes living in Genghis Khan’s time. This not only helps students understand the world of 13th century Asia. It also guides their understanding of the text, as it describes the Khan’s conquests! A section at the end of the book describes some of the inventions and cultural innovations that were created by the Mongols or that spread throughout the world due to trade and travel through the empire! Images from museums bring these innovations to life!
Each History’s Mysteries Graded Reader includes a Learn More section with reliable and safe sources that are accessible to middle school students. These are generally online encyclopedias, journals and news sources written for students, or other tertiary sources! This allows students to explore on their own, looking for answers to questions raised by the text, or finding information that they connect with personally! In turn, that raises their engagement and desire to learn more! There is a full set of references at the back of the book in case students are ready to do some more deep-diving into the subject. These may include books, scientific articles, primary sources, and more!
Following the story,
Projects and discussion questions follow. Depending on the book, students may be asked to write a fictional story about the central events of the topic, say a diary entry from the perspective of a participant. Or an argument essay debating one side of the story. Perhaps they’d like to do more research into a particular aspect of the topic, event, or region. They may lead a class discussion or presentation on which theory they agree with!
Let us know if you have questions or want to see a more detailed sample of other books in the series! Visit The History’s Mysteries Graded Readers Shop page to learn more about each title and how to buy them. Don’t forget to check out the more comprehensive History’s Mysteries Workbook as well!