Every Building Has a History

Gr 7–10—These original and well-written books begin with a historical mystery solved through the research of amateur or professional historians, followed by examples of successful historical investigations in all parts of the world. Some of the discoveries profiled include the search for the location of Viking settlements in North America and the restoration of the Parthenon. All encourage students to think critically throughout the research process and offer clear suggestions about sources to help them in their own investigations, either on featured topics or projects of their own choosing. Color maps, photographs, and reproductions of documents are well suited to the texts. These books could spark class or individual projects, but their main strength lies in their demonstration that everything indeed does have a history; students will be inspired to enhance their knowledge of the past with their own historical investigations.