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About MindSparks
MindSparks materials use well-crafted editorial cartoons, photos, paintings, poster art, and other visuals as well as written documents to generate spirited yet carefully ordered classroom interactions.
MindSparks’ pre-eminent sets, History Unfolding and Debating the Documents consist primarily of booklets with a CD-ROM containing the ImageXaminer™, which allows students to view the visual primary sources on a computer (or with an LCD projector), along with analysis questions and background information. Other MindSparks units have a booklet with overhead transparency sets. Our curriculum supplements cover all major areas of social studies, with some literature-based materials of interest to language arts teachers. MindSparks products are content-rich materials using visual primary source documents to promote visual literacy, classroom discussion, small group interaction, and individual student research projects.
The Historian’s Apprentice series introduces students to more nuanced and sophisticated view of history. Students are exposed to the complex processes by which historians practice their craft in a scaffolded, manageable way. Building on primary source analysis skills developed in the other sets, they detect multiple meanings embedded in those sources, and now take into account varying interpretations by other historians. They are alerted to the trap of present-mindedness and seek to achieve empathy with people who were vastly different from us. They use their imaginations to clarify complex realities and reach cautious, qualified conclusions and prepare to defend them with vigor.
A division of Social Studies School Service, we take great pride in our company's 40 years of experience providing challenging and inspiring tools for educators. We fully stand behind our selections with our Absolute Guarantee and welcome feedback on how we can meet your evolving needs.
Our 40 years of experience mean that we offer high-quality titles at prices that are the best value for our customers. Moreover, we stand behind our products. While selecting educational titles from a catalog description is sometimes difficult, our Absolute Guarantee means that you can return any item at any time if it does not meet your needs. With over 15,000 titles to choose from, we feel confident that we can provide materials that will be just right for you.
This Web site affords us the opportunity to expand our service to social studies educators. You will find:
We encourage you to visit our other divisions to find materials for writing, literature, and language arts at The Writing Company; guidance materials at School Counselor Resources; science materials at Classroom Science Resources; or history, geography, and other social studies resources at Social Studies School Service and Interact.
We want to hear from you! We would like this site to serve as a clearinghouse for teacher ideas, so please send us feedback about our site, alert us to other exciting Web locales, describe projects on which you're working (online or otherwise), or relate stories of interest to you and your peers
Learn more about visiting our showroom.
How to Contact Us
MindSparks
10200 Jefferson Blvd., Box 802,
Culver City, CA 90232 |
(800) 944-5432 (fax)
or (310) 839-2249 (fax) |
800-421-4246
(U.S. and Canada Telephone)
310-839-2436
(International Telephone) |
Directions
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From the Santa Monica Freeway
Santa Monica Fwy (10) to Overland exit
Follow Overland south to Jefferson
Turn left on Jefferson
Turn right into first driveway past Raintree
From Orange County / South Bay
San Diego Fwy (405) to Sepulveda/Slauson exit
Continue north on Sepulveda
Bear right onto Jefferson (past Toys R Us)
Continue on Jefferson past Overland
Turn right into first driveway past Raintree
From the San Fernando Valley
San Diego Fwy (405) to Culver exit
Turn left on Culver
Turn right on Overland
Turn left on Jefferson
Turn right into first driveway past Raintree |
Click on the map for an enlarged picture
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