On September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania changed the global community, pushing terrorism into the spotlight, and triggering a series of world events that included the invasion of Afghanistan and the Iraq War. For many people in the United States, it was their first experience of terrorism in their home country. Terrorism is a global phenomenon that affects many people worldwide, yet it is not a new problem--terrorism has a long history dating back to ancient societies. For generations, terrorist attacks have been carried out against people of all nationalities and ethnic and religious backgrounds. Recent terrorist attacks in Belgium, California, and France demonstrate that the threat of terrorism continues and prompts many questions. Who are the terrorists? What are their motives? And how can we stop the violence? Terrorism: Violence, Intimidation, and Solutions for Peace examines the history of terrorism, its current forms, different causes for it, the effects of terrorism on countries and communities, the psychology of recruiting, who is attracted to it, and how they become engaged. This book explores how terrorism is defined and the motives and methods behind these violent acts. It also encourages students to think critically about current and future efforts to prevent terrorist attacks. Open-minded, investigative projects encourage readers to brainstorm problem-solving strategies to prevent terrorism and to help communities recover after an event. Terrorism teaches students about a crucial topic in an objective, fact-based way that promotes empowerment and understanding. Throughout Terrorism, stories of resilience and kindness are featured alongside realistic, respectful stories of tragedy, allowing students to perceive the harsh reality of the phenomenon without losing sight of the eternal capacity for hope. Investigations and experiments provide hands-on, problem-solving opportunities for students while links to online primary sources and other pertinent resources allow students to independently indulge their own curiosity and follow trails of academic and personal significance.
Nomad Press books in the Inquire & Investigate series integrate content with participation, encouraging older readers to engage in student-directed learning as opposed to teacher-guided instruction. This student-centered approach provides readers with the tools they need to become inquiry-based learners. Common Core State Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards, and STEM Education all place project-based learning as key building blocks in education. Combining content with inquiry-based projects stimulates learning and makes it active and alive. Consistent with our other series, all of the activities in the books in the Inquire & Investigate series are hands-on, challenging readers to develop and test their own hypotheses, ask their own questions, and formulate their own solutions. In the process, readers learn how to analyze, evaluate, and present the data they collect. As informational texts our books provide key ideas and details from which readers can work out their own inferences. Nomad's unique approach simultaneously grounds kids in factual knowledge while allowing them the space to be curious, creative, and critical thinkers. Soon they'll be thinking like scientists by questioning things around them and considering new approaches.
