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Shakespeare for Kids - Folger Library
Grades
6 to 12
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Make the Bard more approachable for younger students with this clever, interactive resource. Kids of all ages can enjoy delving into the life of Queen Elizabeth and the works of ...more
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Make the Bard more approachable for younger students with this clever, interactive resource. Kids of all ages can enjoy delving into the life of Queen Elizabeth and the works of William Shakespeare. Explore full texts of plays in PDF format, interactive word games, challenges, and puzzles, historical lessons (some are interactive), and fun facts about Shakespeare and his theater. A word of caution: many of the activities on this site require prior knowledge of Shakespearean plays and characters. Choose wisely based on the level and language skills of your students, and the depth of your study of Shakespeare. Use to introduce the Elizabethan era, review important concepts, or extend a literature unit with a bit of history. Created by the Folger Shakespeare Library.
In the Classroom
Share some Shakespearean insults and vocabulary by way of introduction to students on a projector or interactive whiteboard before allowing students to use it individually or with a partner. Access the sections entitled "games, challenges and puzzles," and save them as a favorite on classroom computers for use as a learning center or station. Have students complete some of the puzzles or crosswords as a way to review a unit on the Playwright or courtship, courtly love and of course - Queen Elizabeth. Challenge students explore the site and create a quick presentation of what they learned. Students can create brief online posters using a tool such as Padlet, reviewed here.
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Lewis and Clark National Bicentennial Exhibition - Missouri Historical Society
Grades
6 to 12
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This on-line exhibition allows visitors to follow the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, explore the cultural landscape they encountered, and browse through a collection of over 350 artifacts...more
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This on-line exhibition allows visitors to follow the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, explore the cultural landscape they encountered, and browse through a collection of over 350 artifacts that document the first transcontinental journey across North America. Highlights of this beautifully designed site include an interactive map, audio clips providing sounds associated with each place along the journey, and readings from words written by members of the expedition. Links to related themes are provided throughout the site. This is an outstanding resource that accurately presents many facets of this pivotal even in American history. Though this is a Legacy Unit and no longer supported, the information is excellent and well worth your visit.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and classroom activities hosted on this site! This would be a great resource for a US history site, regardless of the grade level. Save this site as a favorite on your classroom computer to allow for easy retrieval when necessary.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Diving Under the Antarctic Ice - Scripps Oceanographic Institution
Grades
6 to 12
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This site documents three Antarctic scuba diving expeditions with spectacular images of sponges, jellies, sea spiders and much more! Explore the Gallery and Field Guide to view and...more
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This site documents three Antarctic scuba diving expeditions with spectacular images of sponges, jellies, sea spiders and much more! Explore the Gallery and Field Guide to view and read about the fascinating creatures that live beneath the ice. Students can find out what it's like to dive in the Antarctic and read journal entries written by the two of the divers. High quality photos are combined with comprehensive written descriptions, but the reading level of the text is fairly advanced, so consider projecting images and providing oral summaries for younger students.
In the Classroom
These images are very original, and could be used to show students examples of various types of life forms. For example, a teacher working on lessons about the different kingdoms or species, might find some really interesting photographs here they can use within instruction. Also useful for earth science teachers studying the ocean and the types of life living in it.
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Sweet Science of Chocolate - Exploratorium
Grades
4 to 8
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This truly engaging site will whet your students' appetites for learning. The history and origin of chocolate (from its start in the Amazon rainforests to its invasion of Europe) is...more
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This truly engaging site will whet your students' appetites for learning. The history and origin of chocolate (from its start in the Amazon rainforests to its invasion of Europe) is presented through photographs, images, and an easy to understand text. Possible health effects, both positive and negative, are discussed, and the process of "tempering" is explored with a step by step experiment that can be reproduced in the classroom. A virtual tour takes visitors inside the Scharffen Berger Chocolate Factory in San Francisco for an up-close look at the chocolate making process. Created by the Exploratorium. (Requires RealVideo)
In the Classroom
The article entitled "Chocolate invades Europe" is a great way to show how one good can affect the entire economy of a continent. Share the article on the interactive whiteboard or projector to allow students to read together in class. As a class create a Venn Diagram discussing what they know about chocolate now to another product such as sugar, tobacco, or even slaves if your class is mature enough to look at the economics of the issue. This is a great find for US and World history teachers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Medici - Godfathers of the Renaissance - PBS
Grades
6 to 12
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Take an interactive, insider's tour of 15th century Florence, and explore the Renaissance through several different themes: art, politics, architecture and science, and religion. Meet...more
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Take an interactive, insider's tour of 15th century Florence, and explore the Renaissance through several different themes: art, politics, architecture and science, and religion. Meet the "godfathers" of the Renaissance who will give you tips on how to be a Medici mobster. Discover which Renaissance figure you most resemble. The companion art gallery includes gorgeous images of Renaissance art. If projecting images in the classroom, remember that clothing is a bit scarce in the Sistine Chapel, so consider the maturity level of your students.
In the Classroom
Use the interactive timeline in your classroom on your interactive whiteboard or projector to give students more context about the Renaissance. The site provides some valuable information about the Medici family, who were an important influence on the Renaissance.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Slates, Slide Rules, and Software: Teaching Math in America - Smithsonian
Grades
7 to 12
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Create an interdisciplinary link between math and social studies with this informative site that chronicles the development of teaching tools to help students master abstract mathematical...more
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Create an interdisciplinary link between math and social studies with this informative site that chronicles the development of teaching tools to help students master abstract mathematical concepts. Simple text and graphics make this a very usable site for students of any level. Created by the National Museum of American History
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station at the beginning of the year in an algebra class to get students thinking about the materials they use and how they can aid learning. This could be a fun accompaniment to syllabus-day or later on in the first week.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Drawing from Life - Smithsonian
Grades
7 to 12
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Spice up a history class and generate discussion with cartoons taken from the Smithsonian Institution's American Art/Portrait Gallery Library Collection. Images, dating from 1862 to...more
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Spice up a history class and generate discussion with cartoons taken from the Smithsonian Institution's American Art/Portrait Gallery Library Collection. Images, dating from 1862 to 1955, reflect the power and popularity of this medium throughout American history. Can be browsed by title, artist, or subject.
In the Classroom
Art and History teachers will love this online collection of comic drawings houses by the Smithsonian. In a class discussion of validity of sources select a few images that were created to reflect on society or satire it. (We recommend Hogarth's engravings if your class is mature enough) Share the images on the interactive whiteboard or projector with the class. Start a discussion as to what students think the meaning and purpose of the image is. Do a few as a class and have students complete the rest of the images on their own. Have students write up a few quick sentences on the remaining images. Teachers can either finish the activity there or have students share their answers later in a discussion.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Adventures of Cyberbee
Grades
1 to 12
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Library specialist Linda C. Joseph has assembled a useful, interactive, and entertaining collection of resources for students and teachers. Use the "primary source of the month" feature...more
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Library specialist Linda C. Joseph has assembled a useful, interactive, and entertaining collection of resources for students and teachers. Use the "primary source of the month" feature to spark discussions about why such a resource is so valuable. Links to Web treasure hunts, projects, and helpful how-to advice on a variety of Internet-related topics are included.
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America in Caricature: 1765 - 1865 - University of Indiana
Grades
7 to 12
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This site, by the Lily Library of Indiana University, features the wry wit and artistic talents of America's best political cartoonists. Three distinct and turbulent periods in American...more
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This site, by the Lily Library of Indiana University, features the wry wit and artistic talents of America's best political cartoonists. Three distinct and turbulent periods in American history are represented: The Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. Especially notable are the political cartoons from election years 1860 and 1864. Challenge students to think about how these caricatures compare with those found in today's newspapers.
In the Classroom
Select the images that correspond to the unit being covered in your classroom. Print out the caricatures, laminate and bring to class. Seperate students into groups and have them all work on at least one of the images obtained from the class. Have students analyze and dissect the images to gauge the meaning, purpose and intent. This is an activity that does require some substance of background knowledge, so do this more towards the end of a unit as review.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Presidency in Action - American Presidents - University of Virginia
Grades
6 to 12
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This is a thematic look at the conduct and evolution of the American presidency since the founding of the republic. It examines the executive structures that manage domestic, economic,...more
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This is a thematic look at the conduct and evolution of the American presidency since the founding of the republic. It examines the executive structures that manage domestic, economic, foreign, and legislative activities in more than enough detail for secondary students. Even a quick tour will demonstrate the current complexity of the executive branch. Be sure to check out Issues and Policy form the menu in the upper left corner.
In the Classroom
This site has a variety of uses within a US government or history classroom. To begin with, teachers can use this site as a resource for research projects; a source for speeches and writings, as well as a learning center during a unit on a particular president or time period. A very useful and flexible source that can easily be worked into your curriculum!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Terra the EOS Flagship - NASA
Grades
6 to 12
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Terra is an Earth Observing System designed by NASA to monitor, measure, and protect the Earth's environment and climate system. This site contains breathtaking, up-to-date satellite...more
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Terra is an Earth Observing System designed by NASA to monitor, measure, and protect the Earth's environment and climate system. This site contains breathtaking, up-to-date satellite images of our planet, and interactive experiments that can be done in the classroom to illustrate how NASA uses Terra's remote sensing to understand how and why the Earth changes. Comprehensive and extensive information on the earth's atmosphere, oceans, land, life, heat and energy is provided. Because the site is updated daily, it can serve as a continually evolving visual aid for earth science classes.
In the Classroom
Use this site in a cooperative learning activity, having students research a specific aspect of the site. Have students create a multimedia presentation using PowerPoint Online, reviewed here, displaying what they have learned. This site allows users to narrate a picture. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate the photo as if it is a news report. To find Creative Commons images for student projects (with credit, of course), try Vecteezy, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Dream of Flight - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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Highlighting the incredible courage, ingenuity, and determination of Orville and Wilbur Wright, this Library of Congress site traces the importance of flight through history as it chronicles...more
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Highlighting the incredible courage, ingenuity, and determination of Orville and Wilbur Wright, this Library of Congress site traces the importance of flight through history as it chronicles the brothers' amazing achievement in Kitty Hawk, NC. Rich in text, photographs, and primary source documents, this electronic exhibit could form the basis for a teacher-created Web hunt, or serve as a visual supplement for a unit on American history and inventors.
In the Classroom
Within the section entitled "the dream" is a collection of primary resources that reflect society's obsession with flight. Print out or download these images separately on the interactive whiteboard or projector. Once students are in groups, assign each student a resource - with each group analyzing and interpreting the meaning of the pieces of art. After each group has dissected their resource, have a classroom debate as to which is the most reflective of human desire to fly? Which is the most inspirational? Which was the most scientific? Not only will the debate explore each of the sources but it will depend on students background knowledge of the history of flight. Because of this, this activity is probably best served at the end of a unit when it can be used as an informal review.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Voices from the Days of Slavery - Library of Congress
Grades
7 to 12
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This collection of digital sound recordings (in MP3, RealAudio, and wav formats), corresponding transcripts, and photographs provide an authentic experience in the study of slavery...more
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This collection of digital sound recordings (in MP3, RealAudio, and wav formats), corresponding transcripts, and photographs provide an authentic experience in the study of slavery in America. Interviews conducted between 1932 and 1975, reveal how former slaves felt about their owners, their families, and their freedom. All recordings are taken from the American Folklife Collection of the Library of Congress.
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on the interactive whiteboard during a unit on slavery in the 19th century. Have students explore the site in cooperative learning groups, with the intentions of presenting a summary of the information they've seen. Students can present the information from a particularly perspective or as though they're reteaching it to their peers. Have the groups present with a podcast, using a site such as PodOmatic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Godchecker
Grades
4 to 8
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This is a site about mythology and the gods of dozens of different cultures. While its irreverent tone and layout may be attractive to some elementary and middle school students, ...more
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This is a site about mythology and the gods of dozens of different cultures. While its irreverent tone and layout may be attractive to some elementary and middle school students, the design sometimes gets in the way of the content itself. That said, there are resources here that are tough to find elsewhere. Teachers will want to use this one selectively, and only after some previewing.
In the Classroom
Use this site as a reference for students studying ancient religions. Assign students different gods/religions, with the intentions of researching and presenting their results to the class. Have students create a multimedia presentation using PowerPoint Online, reviewed here. This site allows users to narrate a picture. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate the photo as if it is a news report about the God's life. To find Creative Commons images for student projects (with credit, of course), try Pikwizard, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mysteries of Catalhoyuk - Science Museum of Minneapolis
Grades
6 to 12
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This site from the Science Museum of Minneapolis chronicles the excavation several years ago of a prehistoric settlement in Turkey. The documentation and other content could have applications...more
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This site from the Science Museum of Minneapolis chronicles the excavation several years ago of a prehistoric settlement in Turkey. The documentation and other content could have applications in a world cultures class, or as part of an introduction to the science involved in archaeology.
In the Classroom
There are a LOT of virtual tours and activities during a lesson or unit on archaeological excavations or the study of neolithic history. Have students look at the activities as learning centers or stations within cooperative learning groups. To show what they have learned from this site, challenge students to create an online interactive infographic to share using Visme, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Gullah Net - South Carolina ETV
Grades
4 to 8
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Gullah is the unique culture of African Americans living on and along the coastal waters of South Carolina and Georgia. This site offers a look at the traditions, customs, and ...more
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Gullah is the unique culture of African Americans living on and along the coastal waters of South Carolina and Georgia. This site offers a look at the traditions, customs, and folk tales of the Gullah people in a treatment that students will find both respectful and entertaining. Try it as an example of a regional American culture, or as part of a study of African American history. Find Gullah lesson plans, music and tales in video format.
In the Classroom
Use the stories and materials on this site as a writing prompt. Open the site and introduce it on the interactive whiteboard or projector before allowing students to explore it individually. Allow students to listen to the stories in groups or individually on classroom computers. Once students have explored the Gullah Tales, have them create their own stories on the website. The stories students can create on the site have pre-determined story titles and themes, making them more appropriate for lower-level readers. However, if there are a lot of advanced students in your class, use a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. This allows them to be a little more creative and put more work into designing their books. An interesting site for English class!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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How to Play Dreidel - My Jewish Learning
Grades
3 to 8
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Here is a site with a full set of rules for playing the popular Hanukkah game. ...more
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Here is a site with a full set of rules for playing the popular Hanukkah game.
In the Classroom
Use the directions to teach students how to play dreidel during a lesson or unit on Judaism. Although it's not something they absolutely need to know - it would be a fun break for students, and may give some more cultural awareness that a textbook would not be able to.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cryptography - Historical Ciphers - Trinity College, Hartford
Grades
6 to 12
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This presentation by students and faculty at Trinity College, Hartford includes discussions of some of history's more famous cipher and encryption machines, including the infamous German...more
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This presentation by students and faculty at Trinity College, Hartford includes discussions of some of history's more famous cipher and encryption machines, including the infamous German enigma machines. Along the way, there's a presentation on some of the basics of encryption.
Students interested in math or computer security will find this one an interesting introduction to a hugely complex topic.
In the Classroom
Use this site as a quick lesson during a history or statistics class, in an attempt to teach students about how some ciphers were solved and how it affected history. Peruse a few of the ciphers as a class on the interactive whiteboard, as a challenge have students try to make or solve one on their own! Students can present their ciphers on the interactive whiteboard, and try to stump their peers!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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America on the Move - Smithsonian Institution
Grades
4 to 12
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Here's an extremely well-designed site about the history of American transportation that really moves. You can approach the content in several ways: an eighteen part chronology filled...more
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Here's an extremely well-designed site about the history of American transportation that really moves. You can approach the content in several ways: an eighteen part chronology filled with images, thematic presentations on immigration, technology, etc., or a sizeable collection of reproducible lessons and teaching materials. Middle schoolers should handle the writing level adequately, and the site is sufficiently visual that upper elementary users will follow the presentation. This one should be a welcome addition to anyone's transportation unit.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and activities hosted on this site! Most detail specific ways to use the site itself in a lesson & would compliment a unit based on transportation and the effect of technologies such as railroads and the automobile.
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The British Museum: The Middle East and Asia - British Museum
Grades
6 to 12
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This British Museum site about the ancient Middle East and Asia has seemingly endless nooks and crannies, each of which leads to an encounter about the history and culture of ...more
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This British Museum site about the ancient Middle East and Asia has seemingly endless nooks and crannies, each of which leads to an encounter about the history and culture of of that civilization. Try it as part of a world cultures course, an introduction to Buddhism or Hinduism, or a look at the geography of the Indian subcontinent.
In the Classroom
Scroll down the page to find classroom resoutces for Assyria, Sumer, Babylon, and Chinese Art. Careful searching should lead to content for almost any grade level.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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