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Publications: Social Studies

To order any of the educational publications, e-mail ordernie@tampabay.com. You must include the following information:


All Aboard: Tampa Bay's Railroad History

All Aboard: Tampa Bay's Railroad History

Grade levels: Elementary and Middle school

Railroads were integral to the development of the Tampa Bay region as an economic center, transportation hub and tourist destination. Prior to the 1880s, much of Tampa Bay was rural, sparsely populated frontier, and Port Tampa was just a small harbor for local fishermen. All Aboard illustrates the immense social and economic impact that the railroad has had on our region, discusses the past, present and future of rail technology and fosters discussion about potential future rail development in Tampa Bay. All Aboard was created in partnership with the Friends of Tampa Union Station and the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

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Click here to view the All Aboard web portal


All About the Benjamins: Understanding the Value of Thrift

All About the Benjamins: Understanding the Value of Thrift

Grade levels: Middle and High school

As Benjamin Franklin once said, "an investment in knowledge always pays the best interest". This financial literacy publication will educate students about Benjamin Franklin and Thrift Week through engaging stories that illustrate key economic concepts, provocative questions to debate and discuss, helpful tips for personal money management and newspaper activities. All About the Benjamins was created in partnership with The James Madison Institute.

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Alternate Times: Exploring Science Fiction Literature

Alternate Times: Exploring Science Fiction Literature

Grade level: High school

Science fiction is a literature of imagination, of ideas and thought experiments, of “what if.” Setting a story in an unfamiliar environment allows authors to explore the potential consequences of political, social, technological and ecological change; of issues such as war, terrorism, climate change, pandemics and overpopulation; and the possible effects of these on individuals and society. Alternate Times: Exploring Science Fiction Literature introduces students and teachers to this vibrant and diverse genre. This publication was produced in partnership with the Altrusa International of Tampa Bay Wilma B. Hogan Foundation, the Catalina Marketing Charitable Foundation, the Frank E. Duckwall Foundation and the University of South Florida Humanities Institute.

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Click here to visit the writing contest website


Anatomy of the Tampa Bay Times

Anatomy of the Tampa Bay Times

Grade levels: Elementary, Middle and High school

This poster illustrates the different elements typically found on Page One and inside the Tampa Bay Times.

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At the Crossroads of Freedom & Equality: Florida's Journey from Separate toward Equal

At the Crossroads of Freedom & Equality: Florida's Journey from Separate toward Equal

Grade levels: Middle and High school

Discrimination is defined as the unfair treatment of a person, racial group or minority based on prejudice. Decades of not treating people with equality and respect spawned the civil rights movement. The Civil War ended in 1865. Yet it took black Americans many decades and a long difficult fight to get what Abraham Lincoln had intended them to have: equality. This supplement, created in partnership with the Altrusa International of Tampa Bay Wilma B. Hogan Foundation, the Frank E. Duckwall Foundation and the Florida Humanities Council, explores the larger issues of intolerance, prejudice, racism and stereotyping in the context of Tampa Bay's past and present.

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Click here to visit the web portal.
Click here for the Living History - Harlem Academy Times multimedia report
Click here to download the pre survey.
Click here to download the post survey.
Click here to visit the City of St. Petersburg African-American Heritage Project.


Discovering Prehistoric Species

Discovering Prehistoric Species

Grade levels: Elementary and Middle school

Dinosaurs lived on earth for about 160 million years – from about 225 million years ago until about 65 million years ago. What did they look like? How did they act? What did they eat? Learn about these fascinating animals and the scientists who study them in Discovering Prehistoric Species, created in partnership with Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.

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Click here to download the Geologic Timeline poster


Flight 2014: Celebrating 100 Years of Commercial Aviation

Flight 2014: Celebrating 100 Years of Commercial Aviation

Grade levels: Middle and High school

On Jan. 1, 1914, a small biplane piloted by aviation pioneer Tony Jannus lifted from the water in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla., with one paying passenger. Twenty three minutes later, the plane landed in Tampa, Fla., launching the world’s first regularly scheduled commercial airline flight and flying into the annals of aviation history. Flight 2014 celebrates the centennial of Jannus’ historic flight and explores the history of aviation, the science and technology of flight, and the impact of aviation on our world.

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Floridians at War

Floridians and War

Grade levels: Middle and High school

Today’s students will become tomorrow’s voters and leaders, responsible for making decisions about when and how the United States should become involved in conflict or war. They must be prepared to understand the causes, history, geography, politics and consequences of conflict and war and how they relate to local, national and global issues in our increasingly interconnected world. While governmental institutions declare war, it is the average citizen who fights. This publication, sponsored by a grant from the Florida Humanities Council in partnership with the Armed Forces History Museum, takes a look at war and conflict through the eyes of those who served in those wars and conflicts.

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Click here to download the pre/post student survey
Click here to download the teacher survey


Floridians at War

From The Scrub to The Twist

Grade levels: Middle and High school

Central Avenue has a special place in Tampa’s history, particularly for the African-American community, and the Perry Harvey, Sr. Park, located at 900 E. Scott St., is a place where generations can come together to share in that history, to learn and enjoy. Central Avenue was the heart and soul of a community flourishing with leadership, entrepreneurship, strength and courage. The area was settled after the Civil War, when freed slaves relocated to an area northeast of downtown Tampa called The Scrub. Over time, the neighborhood of The Scrub developed a vibrant business district, and became a cultural mecca of sorts for a number of black musicians. The area was booming, but began to decline with urban renewal and integration. This supplement, created in partnership with the City of Tampa, Tampa Bay History Center and the Florida Humanities Council explores the rich cultural history from The Scrub to The Twist to Perry, Harvey, Sr. Park.

This publication can be used in conjunction with At the Crossroads of Freedom & Equality: Florida's Journey from Separate toward Equal.

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Learn more about Perry Harvey, Sr. Park
Tampa Bay History Center Central Avenue Contest page
Harlem Academy Multimedia Report from Tampa Bay Times
Chitlin' Circuit playlist on Spotify


Just the Facts: Vaccination protects

Just the Facts: Vaccination protects

Grade levels: Middle and High school

There’s a lot of information out there about vaccines and vaccinations, and it can get confusing. Just the Facts helps cut through the confusion by covering the basics of what vaccination is, how it works, what it protects against and why it is important. It also covers vaccine safety, busts some myths about vaccines and points to trustworthy sources for additional information. Just the Facts was created in partnership with Pfizer’s Independent Grants for Learning & Change program.

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Passport to Flavor (MS)

Passport to Flavor

Grade levels: Middle and High school

Food is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Across the world, food plays a key role in how we live our lives and interact with each other. The world is full of a variety of vegetables and fruits that can be prepared in many different ways. This publication, created in cooperation with Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine and Kohl's Cares, encourages students to think about exploring new foods they have never tried before. Consider this publication to be a passport to flavor, from traditional dishes to new takes on old favorites. This supplement contains informational text and activities in conjunction with Language Arts and health standards.

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See. Wonder. Connect. A Journey through the Permanent Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Fl.

See. Wonder. Connect. A Journey through the Permanent Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Fl.

Grade levels: Middle and High school

The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg has an encyclopedic collection of art from around the globe and across the centuries, with 4,500 years of civilization represented by thousands of objects extending from antiquity to present. Integrating arts education across the curriculum helps students to develop critical thinking, communication and problem solving skills. This supplement, created in partnership with the Museum, uses a selection of artwork from across the Museum’s collections to provide a cross-curricular look at art and its relationship to history, science and Language Arts.

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Click here to download additional See. Wonder. Connect. activities


Springs: Florida’s Natural Wonders (MS)

Springs: Florida’s Natural Wonders (MS)

Grade levels: Middle and High school

A spring is a natural opening in the ground where water flows directly from the aquifer to the earth’s surface. Springs are vital headwaters, the upper tributaries, of many local rivers. Springs are unique water resources that provide natural, recreational and economic benefits. For thousands of years people have been attracted to the natural beauty and habitat of these ecosystems. This publication, produced in partnership with the Southwest Florida Water Management District, explores the springs of west central Florida and the role humans play in protecting and restoring those springs.

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