Program Structure and Contents

Five primary page designs are used to organize the contents of an individual program, which are also supplemented with activities, interactive features, study questions, and other resources.

Program Contents Page

• This page contains the outline, or table of contents, of a program. The numbered items in the outline, called unit areas, are broad topics. The lettered items, called focus topics, are the more specific sections of a unit area.
• Located at the top of the program contents page, navigation may be used to jump from one Beyond Books program to another. Click on an academic discipline icon or the name of a subject area to explore other programs.
• For information about the authors of a program, click on "About the Authors" at the bottom of the program outline.

Program Introduction Page

• The introduction page begins with a written summary that assesses the scope of the program and describes the main topics covered in the content. This page is the ideal place for both teachers and students to begin their exploration of the program.
• The outline of the program is repeated beneath the summary, allowing quick access to any page of the program.
• In the left column, pictures represent each unit area of the program. Click on a picture to reach a particular unit area.

Unit Area Page

• The unit area is a broad section within a Beyond Books program. The first page of the unit identifies subjects that are explored in more detail on the focus topic pages.
• The pictures in the left column and in the text link to some of the best websites on this topic. Click on a picture to explore one of these websites, which will open in a new browser window.
• To choose a focus topic to explore further, click on one of the links in the black box on the right side of the page.

Focus Topic Page

• The content of this page develops a single topic of the unit area more completely. Insightful, cogent, engaging narratives cover the fundamentals and set the stage for in-depth Internet exploration.
• Click on the purple buttons in the left column to access supplemental resources, such as study questions or printable maps. Or use the dictionary function to quickly access the online Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.
• The teasers in the left column, as well as the pictures accompanying the text, link to some of the best websites on this topic. Click on a picture to explore one of these websites, which will open in a new browser window.
• Click on the yellow buttons to move forward or backward in the program or to access the links page.

Links Page

• This page contains a collection of links to the best websites on this topic. Directly related to each focus area, these links are reviewed, summarized, given an "owl rating", and continually updated.
• The Beyond Books editorial staff extensively researches the very best resources on the Internet and frequently checks these sites for liveness and appropriateness. Having these quality sites tied directly to the content allows teachers to spend time planning and teaching rather than searching for websites.
• Chosen links expand subject content, introduce multiple perspectives, and highight particular perspectives (when appropriate). Many sites contain primary source material.
• The pictures, maps, and diagrams in the left column also link to Internet sources. Click on a picture to visit the website on which it appears or to view an enlargement of the picture.

Activities and Interactive Features

Beyond Books provides many types of activities and interactive features in each program. They help bring the program content to life, offer students engaging and challenging ways to test their knowledge, and give teachers easy-to-use, standards-based activities.

• Study questions directly related to the current page's text and links accompany every page of a Beyond Books program. These questions are suitable for classroom discussion, in-class or homework assignments, or review.
• Educational activities (such as Concentration, word finds, picture matching, map activities, and Quiz Show activities) give students an engaging way to test their knowledge.
• Submittable writing activities allow students to send their work to their teachers, receive teacher comments, and build online portfolios.
• Selected vocabulary words and terms are linked to explanations, definitions, and audio pronunciations.
• Science programs include Flash- and Java-based scientific simulations, special presentations, and story problem activities. Social studies programs include a complete set of printable maps.

For more detailed information about the contents of Beyond Books programs, please visit Beyond Books Help.