Federal Documents for Everyday Living
Vol. 1 no3 December 1, 2015

 

DECEMBER HOLIDAYS

Kids.gov – A safe place to learn and play – is the U.S. government’s official web portal for kids. Here you find resources for teachers and parents to use with kids grade K-5 and Teens Grade 6-8. We all know that Christmas is for kids … of all ages … and for those of you who are interested try: NORAD. There are games, videos and more plus it tracks Santa on his Christmas Eve route delivering packages. Kids.gov has more than links to Christmas sites. Here are some examples:December Calendar. (2015). https://kids.usa.gov/teachers/calendar/december/index.shtml

National Hand-Washing Awareness Week is in December! Who knew? Find other great December things here too! Kids.gov Winter Holidays. (2015). https://kids.usa.gov/teachers/social-studies/winter-holidays/index.shtmlAvailable at WSL! Call No. J F KOONS 2004

Federal publications and web sites

Christmas Day, December 25. http://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/christmasday.pdf

The Christmas Tradition in America | IIP Digital. (n.d.) http://1.usa.gov/1QfAbpW

Christmas Traditions with VOA Learning English. (2014). http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/christmas-usa/2571170.html

The Gift of Holiday Traditions: Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Christmas | EDSITEment. (n.d.) http://edsitement.neh.gov/feature/gift-holiday-traditions-kwanzaa-hanukkah-and-christmas

Priceless Holiday Gifts! (n.d.). http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?lic=132&cat_id=20063&article_set=39386
Kids love holidays for more than the gifts!

President Obama Delivers Remarks at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony | The White House [Video file]. (n.d.). http://1.usa.gov/1MXbcp8

Statement on the Observance of Hanukkah. (2014). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/DCPD-201400930/pdf/DCPD-201400930.pdf

Statement on the Observance of Kwanzaa. (2014). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/DCPD-201400956/pdf/DCPD-201400956.pdf

State Publications

Christmas Tree Diseases, Insects & Disorders In The Pacific Northwest: Identification And Management. Chastagner, Gary A. (1997). Washington State University, Cooperative Extension.
Available at WSL! Call No. WA 378.5 Ex8em 186 1997

Pesticide Use in Christmas Tree Plantations And Potential Water Quality Impacts Progress Report. Foss, Steve. (1994). Washington State Dept. of Agriculture.
Available at WSL! Call No. WA 630 Ag8pes u1 1997

Local Government

Kwanzaa: A Working Research Guide Robinson, S. E. (1999). Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History.

Gift Suggestions from the GPO Bookstore

The GPO Bookstore has suggestions of gifts to give for the holiday season including calendars and event planners. These are publications of federal agencies. The site includes a section for kids, and for military and veterans. Here are some examples:

The Civil W[a]r ends, 1865 Bradley, Mark L., author. (2015). Defense Department, Army, Center of Military History. https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-029-00587-5?ctid=1333 Many people mistakenly believe that the American Civil War ended when Lee’s army evacuated Richmond and Petersburg after a long siege and surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on 9 April 1865.

National Park System (Wall Map Poster). Interior Department National Park System. (n.d.). https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/024-005-01274-5?ctid=507 Handsome color map showing the locations of parks in National Park System; suitable for large wall map displays.

Coyote and the turtle’s dream. Lofton, Terry. (2011). Atlanta, GA: Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Diabetes Translation, Native Diabetes Wellness Program.
https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/017-001-00577-1?ctid=510 A mystery novel aimed to middle schoolers ages 10 to 13. Coyote and Turtle tell about storytelling traditions while passing on messages about healthy eating and physical activity.

Owlie Skywarn\’s Weather Book. (n.d.). Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/003-017-00563-1?ctid=510 Easy to read pamphlet about storms: hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, lightning, emergency preparation kits, safety at school, and more. Children ages 8 to 12 but also useful for parents, teachers and other adults.

The world factbook United States. Central Intelligence Agency. (2014). 2013-14. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency. https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/041-015-00311-9?ctid=1312 The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities.

Underground Railroad. United States. National Park Service. Division of Publications. (1998). https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/024-005-01185-4?ctid=507  Describes the many ways that blacks took to escape slavery in the southern U. S. before the Civil War. It includes stories of famous African American women.

Why Would Anyone Cut a Tree Down? | U.S. Government Bookstore. (n.d.). https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/001-000-04759-1 Shows children the life cycle of trees, a renewable resource as their seeds can be planted to make new trees grow. Discusses the need to remove sick, flammable and other dangerous trees as well as the various uses for wood from cut trees. Available at WSL! Call No. W  A 13.2:T 71/65 and online at http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo47133/whycutatree-web-book.pdf.

 Many more gift suggestions can be found at the GPO Bookstore website

Selections of titles and website do not indicate endorsement by the Office of the Secretary of State

This publication was prepared by Rand Simmons, Federal Collection Executive Manager, with the assistance of Staci Phillips. For more information contact Rand at [email protected].