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American Leaders Speak - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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Here is an interactive glimpse of political speeches delivered between 1918 and 1920. These fifty-nine speeches discuss topics such as World War I and the election of 1920. ...more
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Here is an interactive glimpse of political speeches delivered between 1918 and 1920. These fifty-nine speeches discuss topics such as World War I and the election of 1920.
In the Classroom
Beyond the audio files themselves, there is also a "collections connections" section that provides teachers with helpful advice for integrating the speeches into American History, critical thinking, and humanities lessons. Hearing the actual voices can be a powerful experience for students.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Smithsonian Education - Smithsonian
Grades
4 to 12
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Divided into resources for educators, parents, and students, this Smithsonian site has a wealth of information. ...more
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Divided into resources for educators, parents, and students, this Smithsonian site has a wealth of information.
In the Classroom
The lesson plans in the educator's section are sorted subject area and cover arts and design, language arts, history and culture, and science and technology. The site also has helpful hints for planning a field trip to the Smithsonian, as well as a searchable database that allows educators to browse the lesson plans in search of a particular subject.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lewis & Clark Lessons - PBS
Grades
6 to 12
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This group of seventeen lessons seeks to determine the importance of geographic, scientific, and other discoveries made by Lewis and Clark throughout their expedition. The site focuses...more
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This group of seventeen lessons seeks to determine the importance of geographic, scientific, and other discoveries made by Lewis and Clark throughout their expedition. The site focuses on the expeditions' importance to American History and illustrates the many ways in which the journey influenced modern American science and culture. The lessons are categorized by their primary subject area and cover social studies, mathematics, science, and language arts topics.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and classroom activities for this site! There are a lot of interdisciplinary uses for the tale of Lewis and Clark listed.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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New Perspectives on the West - PBS
Grades
6 to 12
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This PBS site has ten lessons that examine "new perspectives" on the westward expansion of the United States during the Nineteenth Century. The lesson plans are part of a larger ...more
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This PBS site has ten lessons that examine "new perspectives" on the westward expansion of the United States during the Nineteenth Century. The lesson plans are part of a larger site, rich with additional resources for researching and teaching about the America's movement westward. Specific lessons touch upon topics such as the transcontinental railroad, Mark Twain, the creation of the literary "west," and the role influence of disease and natural disasters upon western lifestyles.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans on this site! Make sure to save it as a favorite on your desktop to allow for easy retrieval later on.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Abolitionism in America - Cornell University
Grades
7 to 12
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This Cornell University online exhibit provides a detailed portrait of the abolitionist movement in America ready for classroom use. The site examines the origins of the movement, provides...more
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This Cornell University online exhibit provides a detailed portrait of the abolitionist movement in America ready for classroom use. The site examines the origins of the movement, provides detailed descriptions of life as a slave, and discusses the importance of the emancipation proclamation and the thirteenth amendment in the struggle against slavery. The site combines historic narrative with literary and biographical resources to highlight the important cultural role the abolitionist movement played in the United States.
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to create a "picture walk" in your classroom, introducing the topic of Abolitionism. Select 10-15 of the more powerful and diverse images, hanging them up in different locations around your classroom. Have students rotate around the classroom every 30-45 seconds, jotting down what they observe and infer about each image until the entire class has completed the circuit. After the class is back in their seats, have a class discussion based on what they observed and what this says about abolitionism as well as slavery. A great way to get students thinking about the content in a way that's more personal and lecture-less!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Steamboats
Grades
4 to 8
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This virtual museum explores the world of paddlewheel riverboats through collections of photographs of a number of famous boats. There are also exhibits and articles to view and read....more
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This virtual museum explores the world of paddlewheel riverboats through collections of photographs of a number of famous boats. There are also exhibits and articles to view and read. The site's Learning Center highlights which exhibits may be most useful in developing lesson plans, including a site that examines the science behind steam engines.
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Oral Histories of the Holocaust
Grades
6 to 12
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This site, created by High School Students in San Francisco, presents personal oral Holocaust accounts in written and audio formats. The site provides a unique perspective on the manner...more
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This site, created by High School Students in San Francisco, presents personal oral Holocaust accounts in written and audio formats. The site provides a unique perspective on the manner in which the Holocaust affected so many lives, by providing the detailed accounts of six survivors. Due to the nature of the subject matter, teachers may want to limit access of this site to older students.
In the Classroom
Beyond the obvious testimonials this provides to the content, this site can also be used as the perfect example of how students can complete a similar project. During a modern history unit, select a topic that students have the potential to interview their own family members on. Instead of the typical tape recording, try a new technology similar to one used on the website. Use a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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First Amendment Center - Vanderbilt University
Grades
9 to 12
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Whether as a comprehensive source for research or as a primer for studies on the first amendment's guaranteed freedoms of speech, press, religious liberty, assembly and petition, this...more
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Whether as a comprehensive source for research or as a primer for studies on the first amendment's guaranteed freedoms of speech, press, religious liberty, assembly and petition, this site has wonderful resources for civics and government courses. The site also has a variety of print and web-resources available for further study of first amendment issues, including links to a number of Supreme Court documents.
In the Classroom
Lesson plans are linked to NewseumEd, reviewed here, for teachers planning a basic look at first amendment issues.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Life in Williamsburg - Colonial Williamsburg
Grades
4 to 12
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A remarkable history resource for all ages. If you can't make the journey to Colonial Williamsburg in person, this site provides detailed descriptions of life in the era. Explore Williamsburg...more
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A remarkable history resource for all ages. If you can't make the journey to Colonial Williamsburg in person, this site provides detailed descriptions of life in the era. Explore Williamsburg clothing, politics, food, religion, and more through detailed articles, photos, lessons plans and through virtual tours.
In the Classroom
Share this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector as an introduction to this unit or as review. Allow students to explore the site further individually or in cooperative learning groups. 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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Teaching the Vietnam Era - Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Fund
Grades
6 to 12
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Created by the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Fund, the full title of this site is "The War and the Wall." The approach is the Vietnam War era with a focus on ...more
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Created by the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Fund, the full title of this site is "The War and the Wall." The approach is the Vietnam War era with a focus on history, leadership, citizenship, and civic responsibility. The site has good primary source research materials, podcasts, and an interactive timeline, as well as a detailed teacher's guide with teaching modules. Scroll to the bottom of the page to Outside Resources and find teacher's guides to several topics regarding the Vietnam War.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and activities offered on this site! All are related back to standards of learning, and provide great resources for teachers who need to cover the Vietnam War. Save the site as a favorite on your classroom computer and refer to it when in need of fresh ideas.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Serving - Our Voices - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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No, it's not blood and gore up close, but rather a collection of audio reminiscences from American veterans about their experiences in wartime. Created by the Library of Congress as...more
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No, it's not blood and gore up close, but rather a collection of audio reminiscences from American veterans about their experiences in wartime. Created by the Library of Congress as part of their Veterans History Project Collection series, these stories are surprisingly personal and therefore all the more powerful. Choose from a variety of topics on the left menu including different wars.
In the Classroom
Use the audio interviews (with an image of the speaker) on an interactive whiteboard or projector to show students what the war was like from the perspective of people on the ground, and the difference between the first hand account and the textbook. This is a great way to not only teach the content, but display for students the difference between a primary and secondary source. To further argue a point, use a Venn diagram on the interactive whiteboard to graphically display the differences. 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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Debates in the Federal Convention
Grades
9 to 12
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Cmprising the period from May through October, 1787, this site contains the daily journals of James Madison in which he discusses the progress of the Constitutional Convention. Students...more
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Cmprising the period from May through October, 1787, this site contains the daily journals of James Madison in which he discusses the progress of the Constitutional Convention. Students interested in first-hand accounts of the forming of the American Government will find these journals great reading. High ideals notwithstanding, they show that the art of compromise was alive and well at the birth of the federal government.
In the Classroom
Use this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on a projector. Fit to compliment a lesson on the Continental Congress, select a few debates in the site to exhibit how detailed some of the issues faced were. Use the examples as a writing prompt - if in the Continental Congress, what would be the most important issues the Students would raise? If the federal government ceased to exist today, what laws would they create? Would they change anything? This is a great way for students to connect the past lessons of the Revolution to the present!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Einstein - American Museum of Natural History
Grades
4 to 8
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How (and why) do you introduce Einstein to an elementary student? Here's a presentation that does it effectively, drawing on Einstein's love of trying something new and his willingness...more
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How (and why) do you introduce Einstein to an elementary student? Here's a presentation that does it effectively, drawing on Einstein's love of trying something new and his willingness to "think outside the box." While it's mostly text, this site would be a great introduction for a student who is already curious about inventors, scientists, or the universe. This unit is part of the American Museum of Natural History's "Ology" series that explores different aspects of the life sciences. This site requires Adobe Acrobat and Flash. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
In the Classroom
Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to introduce your students to the creative mind of Albert Einstein.
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Supreme Court Historical Society
Grades
6 to 12
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This site offers one-stop shopping for a history of the Supreme Court and the ways in which it operates. There are additional links from this site to more complete anthologies ...more
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This site offers one-stop shopping for a history of the Supreme Court and the ways in which it operates. There are additional links from this site to more complete anthologies of court decisions and their interpretation. Middle schoolers could use elements of this one for basic research about the separation of powers and branches of government; high school students should find many uses for the additional materials.
In the Classroom
This would be a great resource in a civics or government class. Open the site on the interactive whiteboard and tour students through the make-up of the court today. Each Judge has his own separate biography that can also be explored to demonstrate the political alliances of the court. Assign cooperative learning groups different judges to research, with the intent of presenting the material to the class. Try something new, like a podcast! Use a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Grades
9 to 12
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Here's a site that offers the core body of essential Supreme Court decisions in a single presentation that includes lots of supporting context. In addition to the decisions themselves,...more
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Here's a site that offers the core body of essential Supreme Court decisions in a single presentation that includes lots of supporting context. In addition to the decisions themselves, there are supplementary resources, activities, and interpretive documents. There's also a thematic organization that makes identification of specific cases easier.
In the Classroom
Government teachers will love this one.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Our Time Lines
Grades
6 to 12
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While designed as a research tool for people working on genealogies, students will find this site an interesting way to observe and compare events that happened within specific time...more
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While designed as a research tool for people working on genealogies, students will find this site an interesting way to observe and compare events that happened within specific time periods. Teachers will appreciate the feature that allows inclusion or omission of specific types of events. Try these in different combinations depending on the subject at hand.
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Nationalism in the U.S. - 1815-1850 - National Humanities Center
Grades
9 to 12
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Developed as part of the National Humanities Center's Online Professional Development "Toolbox" series, this site offers history and government teachers a wonderfully succinct resource...more
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Developed as part of the National Humanities Center's Online Professional Development "Toolbox" series, this site offers history and government teachers a wonderfully succinct resource kit for building one or more lesson units. Divided into five sections: religion, domesticity, common man, expansion, and America - 1850, the site offers introductions and a set of primary source readings for each, along with presentation guidelines and discussion suggestions. This one encourages students to draw their own conclusions.
In the Classroom
Use this site to allow students to dramatize the events that occurred in 1850, leading up to the civil war. Sharing the site on an interactive whiteboard or projector, open up the section entitled "America in 1850," and assign students roles, by the documents have provided. Once students have read their "parts," or appropriate reading guides, encourage them to re-enact their character's words. Re-enacting the events will show all sides of the argument, and provide a more tangible learning experience. Extremely useful in any American History or Civics class!
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Chinese Exclusion Act - Separate Lives; Broken Dreams
Grades
6 to 12
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From the 1880s to the 1940s, the Chinese Exclusion act prevented immigrants of Chinese descent from gaining full citizenship. The site includes background information on how the act...more
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From the 1880s to the 1940s, the Chinese Exclusion act prevented immigrants of Chinese descent from gaining full citizenship. The site includes background information on how the act came to be, as well as a discussion of its repercussions.
In the Classroom
Consider using this one as part of a study of immigration in the late 19th century.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Living the Revolution: America - 1789-1820 - National Humanities Center
Grades
7 to 12
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Developed as part of the National Humanities Center's Online Professional Development "Toolbox" series, this site offers history and government teachers a wonderfully succinct resource...more
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Developed as part of the National Humanities Center's Online Professional Development "Toolbox" series, this site offers history and government teachers a wonderfully succinct resource kit for building one or more lesson units. Divided into five sections: religion, predicaments, politics, expansion, and equality, the site offers introductions and a set of primary source readings for each, along with presentation guidelines and discussion suggestions. Lots of critical analysis opportunities here.
In the Classroom
This site provides both excellent discussion questions and the primary sources needed to base it on. To begin with, copy down some of the recommended topic questions on the front page of the site before opening it on an interactive whiteboard or projector. For the students, share the primary documents available by clicking on the topic, and then selecting the one in desire. After the class has read them, begin your discussion with the questions copied earlier!
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History Writing Guide - Bowdoin College
Grades
9 to 12
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This college-level writing guide for history papers from Bowdoin College may be beyond the scope of some secondary students. But for those who can already compose a cogent paragraph,...more
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This college-level writing guide for history papers from Bowdoin College may be beyond the scope of some secondary students. But for those who can already compose a cogent paragraph, it offers great suggestions on research process and assembling a paper that uses primary resources. AP history and social studies teachers may want to review this one and suggest or adapt it for their students. There's a wealth of information here.
In the Classroom
Open this site on the interactive whiteboard or projector and have students read the information before beginning their first big research paper. (Teachers can also print the information, but why not save some trees?) The short introductory essay offers some great tips for paper writing and has reference points for students with more questions. Have students look at the rest of the information on their own or refer students with questions to it. Save this site as a favorite on the class wiki or webpage so students can access it both in and out of the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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