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Declaration of Independence - National Archives
Grades
7 to 12
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The National Archives has created an intriguing site that reveals some little known information about this historic document. Discover the number of signers who were born in Europe,...more
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The National Archives has created an intriguing site that reveals some little known information about this historic document. Discover the number of signers who were born in Europe, meet the signer who was a musician, and find out who was the youngest at the time of the signing. A special feature allows you to add your own signature to the document. Also includes a time line detailing the creation of the document.
In the Classroom
Use the "Meet the founding fathers" section as the basis of character roles for a in-class town hall meeting, recreating the events of the constitutional convention. Assign students different roles, i.e. founding fathers, and have them use the biographies of this site to allow them to research who their role was and what their beliefs were for a debate as to whether or not to sign the Declaration of Independence. If students stick to their assigned perspectives, the town-hall meeting can be a great way to review the important reasons for independence and the various perspectives that existed.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Scrooge for Mayor
Grades
8 to 12
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This Web Quest engages students in examining the complexities of Victorian society through the eyes of Ebenezer Scrooge. Having developed a new attitude after visitations from the three...more
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This Web Quest engages students in examining the complexities of Victorian society through the eyes of Ebenezer Scrooge. Having developed a new attitude after visitations from the three spirits, Scrooge is ready to change the world by running for mayor of London. Students - working as campaign managers - must help Ebenezer develop campaign points and outline strategies to woo the public into accepting his ideas for social reform. Aspects of Victorian life described in A Christmas Carol, form the basis for this activity, although it could easily be adapted to any of his other novels.
In the Classroom
This would actually be a great resource for a government class working right before the holidays! During a unit on campaigns, use this activity as a way for students to think outside of the box in applying their lessons. This could even be used alongside a language arts classroom studying "A Christmas Carol," to ensure all students are up to snuff on Scrooge's character. This is a fun way to look at political campaigns with an interdisciplinary focus.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Price of Freedom - Americans at War - National Museum of American History
Grades
7 to 12
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American military conflicts, from the War of Independence to the War in Iraq, are presented in this beautifully designed multimedia exhibit that examines their effect on American society...more
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American military conflicts, from the War of Independence to the War in Iraq, are presented in this beautifully designed multimedia exhibit that examines their effect on American society and our nation's history. Click on the interactive time line to access photographs, artifacts, and text that provide succinct and riveting overviews of each conflict. This site would make an excellent independent computer lab activity. To enhance the experience, develop some essential questions and a "road map" to guide your students - then turn them loose. Downloadable teacher's manual available. A few of the images still require Flash, however, there are many that don't and there is a lot of information to learn.
In the Classroom
Share this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector as an introduction to this unit or as review. The site hosts vast amounts of information about almost every major American conflict in exhibit form. Go through the exhibits with students through out the lecture as the images are of high quality and can supplement the lecture being given. This site also has valuable information for students working on research projects or papers. If thats the case, save this site as a favorite and refer students with questions to it.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Ancient History: Egyptians - BBC
Grades
6 to 12
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Although this page has been archived and is no longer updated, all links are functional. Enrich a unit on ancient Egypt with the outstanding interactive games, multimedia galleries,...more
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Although this page has been archived and is no longer updated, all links are functional. Enrich a unit on ancient Egypt with the outstanding interactive games, multimedia galleries, and articles available on this site. As you can see from the previous description, there is a lot to learn at this site. The interactive still require flash, however there is so much more to read and images to vies. .
In the Classroom
If you study mythology of various cultures or ancient civilizations, this site has many features that will allow you to send students exploring. Create a simple web scavenger hunt for students to discover the basics, or have them use this site to compare the Egyptians to other civilizations, creating a concept map to illustrate similarities and differences (and include URLS to link to images or content they find here a "proof").Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Choice 2004 - PBS Frontline
Grades
8 to 12
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Differences between the two presidential candidates are highlighted in this site that examines their lives, experiences, and world views. Dozens of interviews with colleagues, family,...more
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Differences between the two presidential candidates are highlighted in this site that examines their lives, experiences, and world views. Dozens of interviews with colleagues, family, and adversaries are included, along with a chronology of each man's life. Portions of the companion television special can be viewed online.
Although this resource was created for the 2004 Presidential election, the background information, interviews, and links are valuable for teaching about elections in general and for comparing elections as part of U.S. history.
Although this resource was created for the 2004 Presidential election, the background information, interviews, and links are valuable for teaching about elections in general and for comparing elections as part of U.S. history.
In the Classroom
Government teachers teaching about the past few election OR attempting to provide examples of the two party system will appreciate this site. The site has information about Bush & Kerry's political beliefs that can be easily compared to show the differences between the two parties. As a class, compare with a tool such as Venn Diagram on the Interactive Whiteboard or projector. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Walking Around Europe - Learningtogether.net
Grades
6 to 12
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Choose your character - and participate in an interactive game that teaches European culture and geography. Find many other games on this site about European culture on this site, plus...more
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Choose your character - and participate in an interactive game that teaches European culture and geography. Find many other games on this site about European culture on this site, plus an interactive timeline.
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on culture within a foreign language class. Have a game of the day that you put on your website for students to play at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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FactCheck - Annenberg Public Policy Center
Grades
8 to 12
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This searchable, nonpartisan site analyzes and comments on the claims and statements made by U.S. politicians. TV ads, political debates, interviews, and speeches are carefully examined...more
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This searchable, nonpartisan site analyzes and comments on the claims and statements made by U.S. politicians. TV ads, political debates, interviews, and speeches are carefully examined to uncover distortions, misstatements, and mangled facts. A great resource to incorporate into a lesson on the 2008 election process.
In the Classroom
After presidential debates, go to Fact Check to see what was true and what was "stretched." Have students use this site for research about the candidates.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The War of 1812 - History Channel
Grades
7 to 12
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This companion site to a History Channel special provides some outstanding background information and multimedia presentations documenting the complex and tragic events of the War of...more
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This companion site to a History Channel special provides some outstanding background information and multimedia presentations documenting the complex and tragic events of the War of 1812. Even if you don't view the program, the video clips, timelines, lists of key players, and connections to the world news of the day are worth investigating.
In the Classroom
Open this site on the interactive whiteboard or projector to access some of the extremely informative videos that are offered about the War of 1812. The videos take several different perspectives, some from James Madison, the British, or from the eye of a historian. Select one of the videos and watch it with the class - although we highly recommend creating a follow along to accompany it.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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World City - Museum of London
Grades
9 to 12
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If Victorian literature or history is part of your curriculum, don't miss this site that features a rather impressive virtual stroll through a gallery of recreated Victorian businesses....more
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If Victorian literature or history is part of your curriculum, don't miss this site that features a rather impressive virtual stroll through a gallery of recreated Victorian businesses. You can browse through the shops and offices, peek through windows, and explore back street craftsmen's workshops. Read More links provide visitors with additional background and social context. Add this site to a study of Dickens and 19th century England.
In the Classroom
Use this site as the starting point for individual or group projects. There is a ton of information here that can be used for research projects or papers! You can also use the Victorian Virtual Walk on the interactive whiteboard or projector to show students what the typical Victorian street was like. This would be a great resource for a World or European history class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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September 11: Bearing Witness to History - Smithsonian
Grades
10 to 12
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This is the archived version of the virtual exhibit for September 11, 2001. It provides a collection of stories, images, and objects that represent a material record of 9/11. More ...more
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This is the archived version of the virtual exhibit for September 11, 2001. It provides a collection of stories, images, and objects that represent a material record of 9/11. More than just another 9/11 web site, this resource sensitively documents the people and stories behind the commonplace objects that survived and were carefully preserved. This is a thought-provoking, awe-inspiring site that could be used to generate a discussion about the value of material artifacts in historical interpretation. Use with AP or Honors level history students.
In the Classroom
The portion of this site that was the most impactful was the video posted with live footage of an ABC broadcast as the events of 9/11 were unfolding. You can access the Encyclopdeia Britanica's version of the video on YouTube here. Play the video on an interactive whiteboard or projector, for students as a way to introduce the topic. The advantage of this is it brings everyone to the same page, as some kids may not remember the details or may have forgotten the extreme emotion involved in that moment. It is a very powerful video, and really relays the significance and the pure shock on the part of airline personel (actual audio of First Responders, Air Traffic Controllers, Dispatch Personnel, Airline Employees ...) on that day. Use the video to lead into a lecture or conversation about what followed the report using the Bearing Witness to History site. Are you using blended learning in your class? Having students view the video at home and discussing it in class is perfect for blended learning if your district blocks YouTube. Whether viewing in class or at home you may want to use Moocnote, reviewed here, to add comments, links, and questions to the video.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Political Commercials: Leading or Misleading Voters - PBS News Hour
Grades
9 to 12
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Critical thinking and current events come together in this well-planned lesson that asks students to analyze political commercials and look for logical fallacies. After examining the...more
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Critical thinking and current events come together in this well-planned lesson that asks students to analyze political commercials and look for logical fallacies. After examining the techniques used in the commercials, students use a storyboard template to plan their own commercials for fictitious candidates. As an extension activity, coordinate a video project, and record your students' original political commercials. Downloadable handouts and worksheets are provided. Aligned to National Council for the Social Studies Standards.
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National Museum of the American Indian - Smithsonian
Grades
8 to 12
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This national museum dedicated to the Native people of the Americas provides beautiful collections of online multimedia exhibitions on a variety of cultural and historical subjects....more
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This national museum dedicated to the Native people of the Americas provides beautiful collections of online multimedia exhibitions on a variety of cultural and historical subjects. The Education (under Lesson Plans) link offers a search feature that can include the Featured Nation. Choose lessons from Civics, History, STEM, and Geography. Also find downloadable classroom guides and gentle suggestions on how to avoid stereotyping when teaching your students about Native American culture. Although the site strongly emphasizes artistic contributions of Native Americans, several exhibits examine the tragic loss of native traditions at the hands of social reformers.
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to create a picture walk in your classroom during a unit on Native American culture. Select 10-15 of the more descriptive and diverse images, hanging them around the classroom in different places. Have students rotate around the classroom, moving every 30-45 seconds jotting down what they see in each image. At the end of the walk, have a class discussion based on what students saw in the images and what the walk has portrayed about Native American culture in the time period being studied. This is a great way to introduce the unit in a non-lecture format.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Nostalgia Central
Grades
8 to 12
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Students can gain insight into the fads, fashions, movies, and music that formed the fabric of America during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Year-by-year synopses feature calendars that...more
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Students can gain insight into the fads, fashions, movies, and music that formed the fabric of America during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Year-by-year synopses feature calendars that highlight political and cultural events. This is a great resource for gaining an understanding of American life during the mid to late 20th century.
In the Classroom
Use this site to teach students about the counter-culture movement of the 60's in a non-lecture format. Use this site on the interactive whiteboard to showcase popular culture in that decade. This would be a great resource for a US history course focusing on the modern century.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Vote: The Machinery of Democracy - Smithsonian
Grades
7 to 12
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Voting methods in the United States are examined in this beautifully designed on-line exhibit created by the Museum of American History. The varied practices within individual states...more
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Voting methods in the United States are examined in this beautifully designed on-line exhibit created by the Museum of American History. The varied practices within individual states are explored as well as the historical evolution of our ballots and voting systems. Use this site to help students understand the Florida 2000 crisis, as well as the role technology and innovation have played in shaping our experiences at the polls. Although this resource was created for the 2000 election, the background information is valuable for teaching about elections in general and for comparing elections as part of U.S. history. There is a lot of information to learn from this site, even though some of this site requires Flash.
In the Classroom
Use the interactive exhibition portion of this site as a learning center or station during a unit on the US election process. (extra bonus if your class is specifically studying the 2000 election!)Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts demonstrating their understanding of one of the concepts. Use a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ancient China - British Musem
Grades
7 to 12
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Discover the culture of ancient China with this outstanding, interactive site that explores its artisans, geography, tombs, writings, and more. Each section of the site provides historical...more
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Discover the culture of ancient China with this outstanding, interactive site that explores its artisans, geography, tombs, writings, and more. Each section of the site provides historical information, a story, an in-depth exploration, and a challenge. The challenge activities promote higher level thinking and are ideal for independent practice and review.
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on Ancient China. There is a lot of content on the site, so it would be beneficial to create a graphic organizer for students to help organize their notes. (If looking for an easy find, we recommend using Graphic Organizer Maker, (reviewed here).) Teachers can also use the challenges to assess student participation, not to mention that kids will enjoy the brief respite from note-taking! A very useful resource for the world history classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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U.S. Electoral College
Grades
8 to 12
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Most students are a bit fuzzy on the role the Electoral College plays in choosing our president every four years. This site answers many questions in an easy to understand ...more
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Most students are a bit fuzzy on the role the Electoral College plays in choosing our president every four years. This site answers many questions in an easy to understand format. The history behind the system is discussed along with the particulars of its function. An overview of the intricacies of the 2000 election is also provided. This is strictly an informational resource - no bells or whistles - so use your creativity to build a lesson around it.
In the Classroom
While we're aware this is a public domain site with the reputation of being a bit unreliable, the images on this site would be an excellent resource for government teachers teaching about the Electoral College and its history. Use these images in a lecture or PowerPoint slide to help clarify how the electoral college has functioned in the past.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Apollo 11 - NASA
Grades
4 to 12
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It's July 20, 1969 and millions of Americans are glued to their television watching Neil Armstrong take that first historic step on the surface of the moon. This multimedia NASA ...more
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It's July 20, 1969 and millions of Americans are glued to their television watching Neil Armstrong take that first historic step on the surface of the moon. This multimedia NASA site recreates that Apollo 11 mission, from its launch to its splashdown. Students can view vintage photographs, listen to the mission's audio recording, browse news articles, and tour the video gallery.
In the Classroom
Use the video clips over the interactive whiteboard to supplement the text in discussing the Apollo missions. The clip of the first landing would be a great way to introduce the topic, putting all students at the same level of understanding before beginning a lecture or class discussion. Great resource for a US history classroom!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Death of the Father - John Borneman & Linda Fisher
Grades
9 to 12
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This rather specialized resource takes a look at six former political leaders who created entire political regimes: Mussolini, Ceausescu, Hitler, Hirohito, Stalin, and Tito, and examines...more
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This rather specialized resource takes a look at six former political leaders who created entire political regimes: Mussolini, Ceausescu, Hitler, Hirohito, Stalin, and Tito, and examines their respective regime. Concise text, maps, photographs, and sound bytes, contribute to a multimedia experience that provides a clear and compelling introduction to these six political systems. A glossary, series of timelines, and links to related sites make this a very user-friendly site for student research.
In the Classroom
What's helpful about this site is the list of commonly used vocabulary and terms that can help ESL students or lower-level readers prepare for the unit. Browse the site before beginning a unit and collect a list that would be helpful to such students. Having the lists with them can help them prepare and participate in the classroom setting with more understanding.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What was the exchange Rate Then? - Economic History Service
Grades
9 to 12
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Add a little bit of economic reality to a 20th century American history lesson. Just choose a country and year, and this site will provide exchange rate data between the ...more
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Add a little bit of economic reality to a 20th century American history lesson. Just choose a country and year, and this site will provide exchange rate data between the United State dollar and foreign currency. Changes in currency units for countries throughout the world and links to related resources are included.
In the Classroom
Use this site as an aid for discussing the price differences and comparisons between todays world and now. This information would be great when discussing early American history, when most books and colonizers make reference to British currency. Teachers can either translate the currency before class, or can have students complete it as an in-class activity. One way to do so would be to find a primary document or textbook article that mentions the severity of a tax on the 13 colonies. Have students complete the calculator to find out what colonists were really paying in comparison to what British-bound citizens were paying. use this to spur a discussion that then pro's and con's how severe taxes were and whether they were ample reason to revolt against Great Britiain.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Humor's Edge: Cartoons by Ann Telnaes - Library of Congress
Grades
9 to 12
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This site features the Pulitzer Prize-winning talent of Ann Telnaes, a contemporary political cartoonist who accurately depicts the drama and news of the day with clarity and wit. Use...more
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This site features the Pulitzer Prize-winning talent of Ann Telnaes, a contemporary political cartoonist who accurately depicts the drama and news of the day with clarity and wit. Use these online examples from Library of Congress exhibit to introduce current political issues or challenge your students to design their own political cartoons.
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to discuss the role political cartoons can play in US government. Select a few of Telnaes's images, displaying them over the projector. Have a class discussion about the images, discussing perspectives, effects and what is being portrayed by the cartoons. This is a great way to discover how humor can affect opinions, and dissect how it is done.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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