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Age of Exploration - Mariners' Museum
Grades
3 to 7
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Learn about the courageous voyages that changed the course of human history with this comprehensive collection of activities, narratives, and teaching materials. Visual images and text...more
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Learn about the courageous voyages that changed the course of human history with this comprehensive collection of activities, narratives, and teaching materials. Visual images and text are woven together to create a useful resource for content enrichment and student research. Visit the "Activities for Students and Teachers" for ready-to-go activities with printable handouts that can be incorporated into transparencies, presentations, or reports.
In the Classroom
Use the activities portion of this site to add enrichment to your classroom. There are plenty of quick projects and lesson plans, but there are also two interactive web games that could be used to help students review information. Save those particular portions of the site as favorites on your computer and use them for a learning center or station.
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Child Labor in America - The History Place
Grades
7 to 12
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This collection of haunting images chronicles the lives of working children in America from 1908 through 1912. The photos, taken by Lewis Hine, reveal the dangerous and dismal conditions...more
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This collection of haunting images chronicles the lives of working children in America from 1908 through 1912. The photos, taken by Lewis Hine, reveal the dangerous and dismal conditions in factories, fields, mills, and mines across the United States. Captions provide insight into the wages, responsibilities, and ages of these young workers. A chilling glimpse of child exploitation at the dawn of the 20th century.
In the Classroom
Project these images in your classroom to add some visual realism to a study of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. An excellent primary source to help students understand the significance of the Fair Labor and Standards Act that eventually ended this practice.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Summarizing - Educational Development Center, Inc.
Grades
4 to 8
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After watching the video, go back to the main page and scroll down to Start the Lesson. Students can practice the art of summarizing a text with this interactive quiz. ...more
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After watching the video, go back to the main page and scroll down to Start the Lesson. Students can practice the art of summarizing a text with this interactive quiz. Short passages are accompanied by multiple-choice questions challenging students to zero in on the best summation of the story. Immediate feedback with explanations is provided. The activity is rounded out by an interactive review of main idea vs. detail.
In the Classroom
Once students have completed the last quiz with this tool, ask them to create a summarizing activity from their favorite childrens book for their peers to complete. Use Quizalize, reviewed here for this activity.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Black History Month - Time, Inc.
Grades
4 to 8
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This highly interactive site provides a kid-friendly overview of Black history, the fight for Civil Rights, and those Americans who have made a major impact on the African American...more
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This highly interactive site provides a kid-friendly overview of Black history, the fight for Civil Rights, and those Americans who have made a major impact on the African American dream. Students can listen to audio clips from pivotal speeches in African American history, participate in an interactive quiz on the fight for equal rights, and explore an interactive timeline.
In the Classroom
This site is a great addition to a classroom unit on the civil rights movement. Save the site as a favorite on the classroom computers, and have students work on it pairs, or use it as a learning center. Some of the web quests are basically quizzes in disguise, making them appropriate for review. If using it for review, add the site to your teacher web page 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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Lighting a Revolution - Smithsonian
Grades
5 to 8
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This online exhibition from the National Museum of American History examines the process of invention, breaking it down into five distinct stages. Enter one of the virtual laboratory...more
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This online exhibition from the National Museum of American History examines the process of invention, breaking it down into five distinct stages. Enter one of the virtual laboratory doors to discover the similarities and differences between Edison's 19th century work on the electric lamp and the development of 20th century lighting devices. The site includes links to materials that explain the science and engineering behind electric lighting and the factors used to determine energy efficiency.
In the Classroom
Use this resource to frame a student invention unit based on the five stages detailed on the site. Focus the invention process on current or future needs brainstormed by students in class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What Coal Miners Do - UMWA
Grades
7 to 9
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Learn about the realities, dangers, and hardships of work in a mine with this brief, illustrated guide. Along with descriptions of types of coal mines, mining techniques, and related...more
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Learn about the realities, dangers, and hardships of work in a mine with this brief, illustrated guide. Along with descriptions of types of coal mines, mining techniques, and related jobs, the site includes current and vintage photographs of coal miners at work.
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Quiz Tree - Sierra Vista Software
Grades
1 to 12
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You'll find a huge collection of interactive quizzes on this site, testing student comprehension in many subject areas, including elementary math, foreign language (Spanish, French,...more
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You'll find a huge collection of interactive quizzes on this site, testing student comprehension in many subject areas, including elementary math, foreign language (Spanish, French, Italian), SAT content, science, history, and economics. Some quizzes are multiple choice, others drag-and-drop, but all offer immediate feedback with sound effects.
In the Classroom
A great resource for reviewing content or investigating new information. Headphones highly recommended.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Don't Gross Out the World! - Bill Haduch
Grades
2 to 8
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Find out how much you know about customs around the world with this entertaining, interactive quiz that focuses on table manners in various countries. A fun and eye-opening introduction...more
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Find out how much you know about customs around the world with this entertaining, interactive quiz that focuses on table manners in various countries. A fun and eye-opening introduction to the sometimes humorous etiquette that defines a culture.
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on global culture. Have students complete the site individually on classroom computers. While it's not something likely to be tested by state standards, it is a great way to get students interested in the differences between cultures AND provide a break from more intense learning centers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Remembering Rosa Parks - Academy of Achievement
Grades
6 to 12
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Rosa Parks' confrontation on a Birmingham, AL, bus helped spark the American civil rights movement. Her death in October, 2005, offered an opportunity to remember that contribution...more
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Rosa Parks' confrontation on a Birmingham, AL, bus helped spark the American civil rights movement. Her death in October, 2005, offered an opportunity to remember that contribution to American society. This site's biography offers background on the story that could be used in a number of instructional settings.
In the Classroom
Within the site is an interview with Parks, in which she accounts segregation in her childhood as well as the bus boycott that made her so famous. Play this for students during a unit on the Civil Rights movement in place of a lecture, or afterwards to review the content.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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History of Halloween - History Channel
Grades
5 to 8
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Turn Halloween into a history lesson with this History Channel site that traces its origin from an ancient Celtic festival to the modern-day practices of trick-or-treating and Jack-o'-lantern...more
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Turn Halloween into a history lesson with this History Channel site that traces its origin from an ancient Celtic festival to the modern-day practices of trick-or-treating and Jack-o'-lantern carving. Includes some hauntingly intriguing video clips (some with specific ties to American history), ghost stories, and recipes.
In the Classroom
This is a great site to show students how history can impact their everyday! One good project would be to use this site as an introduction to Halloween activities. Introduce the site on the interactive whiteboard or projector. There are several different "histories" on the site, such as the history of the Jack o'Lantern, or the origins of Halloween, or the origins of several ghost stories. Have students look at the site in pairs, and create a poster of what they thought were the most interesting facts. We recommend a site such as Padlet (reviewed here). Have students display their posters, and then use the free craft ideas offered to celebrate the holiday in your class!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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State and Regional Folk Tales - S.E. Schlosser
Grades
5 to 7
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This repository of folk tales from throughout the United States, organized by state and region, provides students with a great literary tapestry of American culture. Add to a unit on...more
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This repository of folk tales from throughout the United States, organized by state and region, provides students with a great literary tapestry of American culture. Add to a unit on your state's history, or use to supplement your reading curriculum.
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on the interactive whiteboard or projector, before allowing students to explore the site independently. Use the stories as a writing prompt - after students have explored for a set amount of time, have them write their own ghost stories about areas in the state. To tie it into history, teachers can make them time-pieces, with the stories required to be related to a certain unit or period of time.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Thomas Edison's Inventive Life - Smithsonian
Grades
3 to 8
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Learn about Thomas Edison and the impact of his inventions. While most students know about the light bulb and the phonograph, this site peers into the full repertoire of Edison's ...more
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Learn about Thomas Edison and the impact of his inventions. While most students know about the light bulb and the phonograph, this site peers into the full repertoire of Edison's invention inventory, giving the story of how one man became a sort of national invention hero. Scroll down the page a bit and click the tag on the right titled Legendary inventors to find information about Edison and tatoos, the phonograph, his places of invention, and Thomas Edidson letters and documents.
In the Classroom
Share this site at the beginning of a unit on inventors and inventions using your whiteboard or projector. Create a Padlet, reviewed here, with columns for students to list and describe Edison's inventions. Enhance learning by asking small groups of students students to look through the tag Legendary inventors to find another inventor to read about and research. Then challenge the groups to choose one of the following tools to create a presentation about what they learned to share with their peers: a multimedia presentation using Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here, a video using Typito, reviewed here, a podcast using Buzzsprout, reviewed here, or a blog post using Edublog, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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New Sense, Inc. vs. Fish Till U Drop - EconEdLink
Grades
1 to 12
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Here are economics lessons for elementary through high school students that explores the rights of individuals versus the obligations of government to preserve and protect natural resources....more
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Here are economics lessons for elementary through high school students that explores the rights of individuals versus the obligations of government to preserve and protect natural resources. The site presents opposing economic theories and asks students to evaluate the merits of each as they apply to a hypothetical example. While written as an economics lesson, this example could also work as part of a government class. Aligned to national standards. Many engaging and relevant lessons that are highly engaging.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this free set of lesson plans about economics of topics in everyday life. Be sure to save the site as a favorite on your classroom computer to allow for easy retrieval later on.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African American Women Writers of the 19th Century - NY Public Library
Grades
6 to 12
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The New York Public Library developed this collection of works by nineteenth century female African American writers. The resources include fiction, poetry, essays, and more; all are...more
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The New York Public Library developed this collection of works by nineteenth century female African American writers. The resources include fiction, poetry, essays, and more; all are formatted in an easy-to-use on-screen display. Those who teach American literature will find this an interesting supplemental resource.
In the Classroom
Use the poems by Phyllis Wheatley to complement a lesson on supporters of the American Revolution. Wheatley is often a studied character in American History, and her poems often confront American Independence and slavery. Share the poems with students at the end of a lesson, and have them analyze as a class what she is trying to say about either subject. Enhance student learning with a digital classroom discussion (where everyone gets a chance to contribute) using YoTeach, reviewed here, or by digital journal writing using Penzu, reviewed here, or edublog, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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John Roberts Nominated as Chief Justice - NPR
Grades
6 to 12
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NPR's collection of stories about the Roberts nomination includes background on his career, a look at the confirmation process, and discussions of Roberts and the rare opportunity to...more
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NPR's collection of stories about the Roberts nomination includes background on his career, a look at the confirmation process, and discussions of Roberts and the rare opportunity to fill two court vacancies. Useful for individual or group use.
In the Classroom
Though there have been judges nominated and appointed more recently than Roberts, this site provides some excellent information that makes it a great resource for a lesson on judicial nominations. Use this site as a hands-on activity after a class discussion or lecture on the topic. Have cooperative learning groups explore the site with the intentions of showing how Roberts moved through the processes to become a judge. Have students create graphic organizers or concept maps demonstrating the process. Use a tool such as bubbl.us (reviewed here) to create and share the concept maps.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ancient Egypt - National Geographic Society
Grades
5 to 12
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Explore ancient Egyptian culture through its colorful myths and legends with this site that guides students through an entertaining interpretation of the past. The educator guide is...more
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Explore ancient Egyptian culture through its colorful myths and legends with this site that guides students through an entertaining interpretation of the past. The educator guide is designed for grades 5-12. The resources include interactives, articles, and many other bits of information related to ancient Egypt.
In the Classroom
Start with the educator guide to find lessons and ideas to share with your students. Share the interactives and images on your IWB so all students can view and discuss.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Benjamin Franklin: An Extaordinary Life, An Electric Mind - PBS
Grades
7 to 12
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Learn about the colorful life and world of Ben Franklin through this series of eight downloadable lesson plans that explore the statesman's many talents and contributions. Topics include...more
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Learn about the colorful life and world of Ben Franklin through this series of eight downloadable lesson plans that explore the statesman's many talents and contributions. Topics include Poor Richard's Almanack, superstition vs. science, volunteerism and citizenship, colonial "broadsides" and almanacs, the art of invention, and more. Aligned to National Standards.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and activities hosted on this site! This would be a great resource for an early American history class, be sure to save it as a favorite on your computer!
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Google Maps - Google
Grades
1 to 12
3 Favorites
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Google Maps gives you live visuals of any location, ideal for planning a trip, picturing the relationship between places, and viewing physical characteristics of almost anywhere in...more
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Google Maps gives you live visuals of any location, ideal for planning a trip, picturing the relationship between places, and viewing physical characteristics of almost anywhere in the world. Type or paste in an address and click "search maps." If you click Satellite or hybrid versions of the map, you will see actual satellite images of the terrain. Zoom in and out, use the street view "orange man" to walk among the buildings and trees, or plan and share a route easily with Google Maps. Using your (free) Google membership allows you to save favorite places and more. Find businesses and other features near a specific map location: hotels, restaurants, schools, parks, and more. Google Maps has become more and more sophisticated, now offering many features previously only available in Google Earth, such as opening and/or saving placemarker files. Unlike Google Earth, Google Maps does not require software installation and does not use as much bandwidth for constant reloading. You can even play a tour of places you mark in Google Maps. They just keep adding more features! Google Maps is available as a free app for Android and iOS, too. The handy embed codes let you put any Google Map in a web page, blog, or wiki. Of course you do not need a membership or any special skills to simply SEE, share, or navigate a map. Membership gives you more ways to save.
In the Classroom
If you teach geography, this one's a must. It is also helpful for showing students WHERE a story or news event takes place. In lower grades, use it to show students basics of their community. Teach map skills by showing students their own community. Zoom in on their street or on the school. This site and its more sophisticated cousin, Google Earth, are great on an interactive whiteboard. Set up a class Google account (or use student accounts if permitted). Have students create their own custom route plans to tour historic sites. Challenge math students to plan the most economical route to visit several vacation destinations, including gas mileage and gas prices. Have students create placemarker files of the important places in the life of a famous person or the route traveled by a particular unit during the Civil War. Have student groups create placemarker files to show environmental sites, habitats, landforms, or anything you can place on a map. Embed projects in a class wiki using the handy embed code offered as a sharing option. Not comfortable with wikis? Check out TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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French and Family - National Endowment for the Humanities
Grades
6 to 8
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Although this unit plan was originally written for early elementary students, the related readings and activities are ideally suited for foreign language classes at the middle school...more
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Although this unit plan was originally written for early elementary students, the related readings and activities are ideally suited for foreign language classes at the middle school level. With a focus on French language and culture, this series of lessons centers on family life. After learning about areas of the world where French is spoken, students explore the similarities and differences between French and American families and expand their foreign language vocabulary with French words for names of family members. Aligned to National Standards.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plan offered on this site - Foreign language teachers will appreciate this one.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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We Need Cash! - McRel
Grades
6 to 8
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Use this creative lesson plan to introduce your students to the many social services available in your town or city, the important needs they address, and the funding that supports...more
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Use this creative lesson plan to introduce your students to the many social services available in your town or city, the important needs they address, and the funding that supports each one. After researching various charitable, religious and civic organizations, students are asked to select one and argue persuasively in support of a hypothetical monetary grant to further its specific cause. Aligned to National Standards.
In the Classroom
Save this site and take advantage of the free lesson plan offered on this site! This could easily be used in a civics classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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