The Role of Extended Reading
|
Reading is a big part of the I&S Humanities curriculum at Island School. We place a big focus on improving student communication skills and literacy. As such, we believe that extended reading is always beneficial to students and should be encouraged by all. The books below are some optional general reference books that can help extend student knowledge and understanding in the key subjects of the Year 7 and 8 I&S Humanities programme.
For more specific recommendations, please explore the 'Further Reading' pages for each unit on this website. |
|
1. Patterns of Interaction
|
World History: Patterns of Interaction
Published by Holt McDougal Ages: 12-17, Pages: 1,320, Price: $700-1,000 HKD This American world history textbook provides a good general overview of history topics from Ancient Civilisations to the Modern World. What is good about this book is that it blends learning from History, Geography, and Philosophy and Religious Studies (PRS) to tell the story of mankind, closely following our I&S Humanities course. Another benefit is that because it is well detailed, it can be used for study from Year 7 up to Year 11. The downsides? Is more expensive than others and is more difficult to read. |
2. History: A Definitive Visual Guide
|
History: From the Dawn of Civilisation to the Present Day
Published by DK Publishing Ages: 11+, Pages: 620, Price: $500-700 HKD This visual encyclopaedia tells the story of the history of the world with focused sections on key historical figures and events. It provides a great general knowledge of history, focusing on key people, inventions, and ideas, and is presented in an exciting way. Downsides? No specific concerns but is a general overview of history - you will need to look for more specific texts for certain units of work. |
|
3. Big History: From Big Bang to Now
|
Big History: Our Incredible Journey, from Big Bang to Now
Published by DK Publishing Ages: 11+, Pages: 440, Price: $500-600 HKD This book provides a great overview of History from an interdisciplinary perspective. Drawing on topics and learning from both science and the humanities, it attempts to tell the story of all of history from the Big Bang onwards. Our I&S Humanities curriculum is closely aligned to this and is a great companion to further study on the Big History Project. Downsides? Not all of the chapters are completely relevant to the I&S Humanities course. |
1. Geography of the World
|
Geography of the World
Published by DK Publishing Ages: 9-12, Pages: 304, Price: $150-250 HKD This book is an easy to read general introduction to geography concepts and terms. What we like is that it focuses on the links between people and the environments in which they live, and explores the culture of different world societies. And is a great reference book for students studying any aspect of Year 7 and 8 Humanities. The downsides? It doesn't serve as an accurate Atlas, so you would probably want to also have a more detailed atlas aswell. It perhaps doesn't provide the level of detail you would want for higher level study at Years 10 and above. |
|
2. Complete World Atlas
|
Complete Atlas of the World: The Definitive View of the Earth - 3rd Edition.
Published by DK Publishing Ages: 11+, Pages: 432, Price: $600-750 This is a fully revised and updated atlas reflecting the latest changes in world geography. Including sections on geology and landscapes as well as maps, the book uses terrain models and colours schemes to produce high quality maps and images. The atlas features four sections: a world overview, the main atlas, fact files on all the countries of the world, and an easy-to-reference index of all 100,000 place names. Downsides? None really. For a standard reference atlas it is perfect, but obviously doesn't have the functionality that online software like Google Earth has. |
1. Myths and Legends
|
Myths and Legends - An Illustrated Guide to their Origins and Meanings
Published by DK Publishing Ages: 11+, Pages: 352, Price: $200-300 HKD Explore the world's great myths and legends, brought to life in this enthralling retelling of age-old stories passed down from generation to generation. From the heroes of Ancient Greece to The Dreaming of Australian aborigines, here are the myths that, thousands of years after they were first told, are still relevant today. The book is a great reference source for studying origin stories and the beliefs of Ancient Civilisations. Downsides? Great for Year 7 research but not specific enough about world religions for more advanced study. |
2. The Religions Book
|
The Religions Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained
Published by DK Publishing Ages: 11+, Pages: 352, Price: $150-200 HKD This essential guide to religion explains the key tenets and big ideas behind the world's five main religions - Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism - alongside newer faiths. It is a great introduction to world religions and will give students a good overview of the main ideas and religious concepts. Downsides? It maybe a little complex at times, not as visual as other books. |
|
1. The Economics Book
|
The Economics Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained
Published by DK Publishing Ages: 12+, Pages: 352, Price: $200-250 HKD From Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, to Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes, to the top economic thought leaders of today, The Economics Book is the essential reference for students and anyone else with an interest in how economies work. Easy-to-follow graphics, succinct quotations, and thoroughly accessible text throw light on the applications of economics, making them relatable through everyday examples and concerns. Downsides? Is a little more complex than most books. |