Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This multimedia site explores various facets of American history through Lessons, interactives, Themes and more. Visitors can view objects that are part of the Smithsonian collection, navigate between historical eras, or filter the information by selected themes (Arts and Culture, Politics and Reform, etc.) Items in the exhibit are linked to National Museum of American History websites that provide more in-depth information.

tag(s): agriculture (49), american revolution (82), famous people (19), japan (56), japanese (47), jazz (16), lincoln (66), politics (118)

You'll be enlightened, amazed, and even mystified by this eclectic collection of online museums that tout the bizarre, the practical, and the mundane. Interspersed among the "traditional' exhibits featuring the likes of Van Gogh and Ansel Adams are those covering a dizzying array of interests and obsessions. Check out the Gallery of Stove Burners, Ephemera Now, or the Museum of Norwegian Manhole Covers (we're not kidding). In addition to making some interesting cultural statements, the exhibits provide great ideas and insights for art and photography students.

tag(s): artists (84), inventors and inventions (80), museums (52), trivia (19)

This lesson plan explores child labor in America as an historical and social issue. After assuming the roles of historian, photojournalist, and news reporter, students are asked to critically respond to vintage 19th and 20th century photographs. Links to extensive online resources are provided. Good introduction to historical research using primary sources. Add to a unit on the Industrial Revolution.

tag(s): evolution (89), industrial revolution (22)

Using an 18th century New England midwife as a case study, this site introduces students to the intricate business of piecing together history from the fragments that have survived. Students can browse an online diary, use the site's "magic lens" tool to read the text, and gain some insight into the nuances of transcribing centuries-old handwriting. Challenge your students to explore and develop an understanding of the life and times of this colonial woman through her own words. The site also offers a chance to investigate a criminal case from 1789, using diary entries and corresponding court records.

tag(s): colonial america (95), england (50)

Learn about a pivotal event in American history while strengthening research skills. This lesson plan combines primary source documents authored by the Wright brothers with newspaper accounts of the Kitty Hawk accomplishments. Students are asked to compare and contrast the two sources to identify discrepancies and isolate the most reliable documents.

tag(s): flight (34), wright brothers (16)

This site offers beautiful illustrations, photographs and interactive activities, all designed to acquaint visitors with the challenges and achievements of the Wright Brothers. In addition to excellent content - organized by topic in timeline format - the site features an artifact gallery and several well-planned classroom activities. An interactive "pitch, roll, and yaw" experiment is coming soon.

tag(s): wright brothers (16)

This helpful timeline details the major events and players in the Women's Rights Movement and provides hyperlinks to related notes and articles. A great reference site for Women's History Month activities.

tag(s): 1920s (15), women (151), womens suffrage (52)

National Geographic for Kids offers this Underground Railroad site, explaining how the Underground Railroad got started, followed by a big map, describes the journey's dangers, and introduces Agents of Change, Fugitive Slave laws, and more. Though text heavy, this site does have a few interest-catching images, and the text is in simple, understandable language for students to read.

tag(s): abolition (7), slavery (79), underground railroad (15)

Follow the development of slavery in America from its beginning in 1619 to Reconstruction. This companion site to a PBS special examines the climate in which the institution existed and brings some very human, very compelling stories to light. Features include historical essays and personal narratives, primary source documents, sound files depicting the music in slave life, an interactive timeline, and audio recordings of interviews with former slaves. Though some of the features require Flash, there is still some excellent information to learn. The website is not maintained but can still be used.

tag(s): africa (148), african american (115), slavery (79)

This is much more than a site about Auschwitz. In addition to presenting a portrait of one of Europe's most infamous concentration camps, the site explores the historical context in which Hitler and the Nazis rose to power and follows the chain of events that led to the development of mass extermination camps. There is much riveting and chilling information to be found in this resource - from interactive, captioned maps to reflections from victims and perpetrators.

tag(s): hitler (6), holocaust (42), jews (33), nazis (8), world war 2 (161)

In the second decade of the twentieth century, rotogravure printing provided newspaper publishers with a new and high-quality process for reproducing images. The Library of Congress has assembled a searchable collection of these vivid illustrations as part of a photo exhibition on World War I. Flip through these images for a visual history lesson reflecting American culture, wartime sentiment, and the people and places that played a significant role in America's history during that era.

tag(s): 1900s (72), 20th century (62), images (263), photography (130), world war 1 (77)

The American Soldiers' Newspaper during World War I is the focus of this online collection that provides the complete 71-week run of the publication. Search by keyword or browse by date. This is an excellent resource for introducing students to the value of primary source documents.

tag(s): journalism (74)

This comprehensive site covers all aspects of the Berlin Wall, from its construction in 1961 to its symbolic presence today. History students can find outstanding information in the form of a timeline, facts and FAQs, a collection of memories from Berliners, and vintage photos.

tag(s): cold war (30), german (49), germany (28)

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.

tag(s): american revolution (82), declaration of independence (16), evolution (89)

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.

tag(s): civil war (139), vietnam (38), world war 2 (161)

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.

tag(s): pennsylvania (6), war of 1812 (15)

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.

tag(s): sept11 (18), terrorism (41)

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.

tag(s): native americans (108)

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.

tag(s): 1960s (26), 1970s (10), 1980s (7)

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.

tag(s): college (45), elections (82), electoral college (22)