The Social Studies Essential Skills series provides insight into key social studies concepts that students must know to develop a greater understanding of content. Using easy-to-read text, colorful images, and illustrations, as well as hands-on activities, students will gain knowledge of map, chart, and graph reading, develop critical thinking skills, learn to examine primary source documents, and understand citizenship. Social Studies Essential Skills is a series of AV2 media enhanced books. A unique book code printed on page 2 unlocks multimedia content. These books come alive with video, audio, weblinks, slideshows, activities, hands-on experiments, and much more.