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Churchill - PBS
Grades
6 to 12
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One of the twentieth century's real giants, Churchill's accomplishments go well beyond the content on this companion site to the PBS series of the same name. While most famous as ...more
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One of the twentieth century's real giants, Churchill's accomplishments go well beyond the content on this companion site to the PBS series of the same name. While most famous as a World War II leader, his influence on the British government stretched from the 1920s well into the 1950s. This site is a great introduction, but serious secondary students should be prepared to delve more deeply.
tag(s): churchill (8), middle east (49), world war 2 (160)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on WWII. Because there is a lot of information on this site, it would probably work best if students had a graphic organizer to guide them through. For help creating graphic organizers, we recommend using Graphic Organizer Maker, (reviewed here).You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Historic Wings - Feature Stories
Grades
6 to 12
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If you'd like to incorporate elements of the history of aviation into a unit on science or history, this site's nice collection of features on significant aviation history events could...more
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If you'd like to incorporate elements of the history of aviation into a unit on science or history, this site's nice collection of features on significant aviation history events could be useful. There's a nice selection of items that spread over the years from the 1920s through the present. There could be more depth, but the essential information is presented well.
tag(s): air (102), aircraft (16), aviation (40), explorers (65)
In the Classroom
Each of the individual web explorations could easily be used to introduce separate units within a history class. When applicable, select the exploration you would like students to work on and save it as a favorite on classroom computers. Have students go through the information and make a quick and small poster to show what they have learned. We recommend an online poster creator such as Padlet, reviewed here. The site offers information commonly left out of textbooks, but still relevant enough to apply to the Standards of Learning. They definitely make for interesting activators or introductions to units.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Charles Lindbergh
Grades
8 to 12
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Fans of the famous pilot will find this site has almost anything ever recorded about the aviator and his journeys. There is also information on several efforts to recreate the ...more
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Fans of the famous pilot will find this site has almost anything ever recorded about the aviator and his journeys. There is also information on several efforts to recreate the Ryan aircraft that Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic to Paris. Try this site as an add-in to a unit on the 1920s, an examination of the history of flight, or a unit on famous explorers or Americans.
In the Classroom
Open this site on the interactive whiteboard or projector and use it to introduce a lesson on the history of flight. Play the video clips for students before or after a lecture, depending on whether or not you want to preview or re-enforce the information. You will need RealPlayer or Microsoft Media Player to view the video clips.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Korea - Unfinished War - American Radioworks
Grades
9 to 12
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While it deals specifically with the Korean War, this American Radioworks site's interviews (both sound and transcripts) are an interesting window into the broader aspects of American...more
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While it deals specifically with the Korean War, this American Radioworks site's interviews (both sound and transcripts) are an interesting window into the broader aspects of American and international life during the period immediately after World War II. Of these secondary themes, the information on the evolution of race relations in the United States in the 1950s is particularly interesting.
tag(s): africa (144), african american (110), korea (21), racism (79)
In the Classroom
Use the articles on this site to supplement the text & lecture during a unit on the cold war OR about civil rights. (There are articles about integrating the army as well as detailed reports about various aspects of the cold war) This is a great resource for a higher-level American history class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Fission - Moments of Discovery - American Institute of Physics
Grades
9 to 12
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Pretty it isn't, but this site about the serendipity surrounding the discovery of nuclear fission (and many other scientific achievements) emphasizes how a combination of knowledge,...more
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Pretty it isn't, but this site about the serendipity surrounding the discovery of nuclear fission (and many other scientific achievements) emphasizes how a combination of knowledge, research, and happy coincidence contributes to many scientific advances. It's a great point of view for physics and science students to see.
tag(s): energy (131), nuclear energy (20)
In the Classroom
Use the audio files on this site to introduce one of the corresponding topics in a science class over the interactive whiteboard. There are also teacher guides that provide a few simple ideas as to how to work these files into your classroom. This could be a great way to show a case study in your classroom, providing something tangible for students to listen to, supplementing their normal text.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Founders' Constitution - University of Chicago
Grades
9 to 12
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This site from the University of Chicago offers links to the philosophical and political source documents on which the Constitution is based. Click the Contents link in the upper right...more
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This site from the University of Chicago offers links to the philosophical and political source documents on which the Constitution is based. Click the Contents link in the upper right corner and find a wealth of content in this one. Faculty who want to explore the origins of American government will find this site useful both for its thematic organizational structure and its wealth of resources. Secondary students will likely need some guidance in working with these materials.
In the Classroom
Use this site as a resource for students preparing for a classroom debate based on one or more articles of the constitution. This site is more useful if the debate is set into the time period of the Revolution, allowing students to treat the primary sources as though they were writings from contemporary peers rather than distant founding fathers. A great resource for a US history or government class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Blues - PBS
Grades
6 to 12
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The PBS series on "The Blues" combines history and musicology in a reverential treatment of this uniquely American musical form. The site includes biographies, some good analysis of...more
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The PBS series on "The Blues" combines history and musicology in a reverential treatment of this uniquely American musical form. The site includes biographies, some good analysis of the musical theory and compositional form behind the blues, and samples of blues songs that are in the public domain. While you probably cannot make an entire unit out of this one, it would be a neat addition to a unit on African American culture, American music, or the history of the twentieth century.Though the video clips and music require Flash, there is a lot of information to learn from this site, and it has links to other sites about the blues.
tag(s): africa (144), african american (110), blues (22), harlem (9), jazz (16)
In the Classroom
A true American art form, "the Blues," makes a great interdisciplinary study, and this site's lesson plans provide a well-researched foundation for that study. Our only regret is that sites on this subject so rarely include sound files for the music they're describing. You and your students could explore the Blues music offered at Perfect Blues: 1920s, 30s and 40s Vintage Blues; Duke Ellington; Leadbelly, reviewed here. There are still the biographies and resources list available on this PBS site. Enhance student learning by having students select a blues musician to complete a brief biography on, using the list provided on this site as a starting point. There is plenty of information, and students with little inspiration are sure to find someone of interest here. Enhance learning by having students share what they learn using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, an easy to use free tool for creating infographics using pre-designed templates or by starting from scratch.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Perilous Fight - World War II in Color - PBS
Grades
6 to 12
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American History teachers should turn their visual learners loose on this one. Based largely on collections of color still photos taken during World War II, the site - a companion ...more
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American History teachers should turn their visual learners loose on this one. Based largely on collections of color still photos taken during World War II, the site - a companion to the PBS show of the same name - examines the progress of the war in Europe, in the Pacific, and on the home front. The narrative is secondary to the photos and provides only a synopsis of some events, but visually, this is powerful stuff. A few resources on this site require Flash. There is a lot of information and images that don't require Flash.
tag(s): 1900s (72), 1940s (14), world war 2 (160)
In the Classroom
Save this site on classroom computers and use it as a learning center or station. Some of the content does have sound, so make sure to include headphones for student use. This site does have a lot of information, and would perfectly be utilized during a unit on WWII or on the evolution of aircrafts in general. Tech-geeks will love this one!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Anyday
Grades
6 to 12
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This one is tough to categorize. Enter a day of the year, and this site will tell you about important events, births, and deaths that have happened on that day. ...more
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This one is tough to categorize. Enter a day of the year, and this site will tell you about important events, births, and deaths that have happened on that day. Try using this one to create a list of important events - covering a variety of subject areas - for an entire week.
tag(s): quiz (66)
In the Classroom
This site would make for a great creative writing project for students in a high school english class. Have students search for their birth date, and find one person on that list that they can focus their paper on. Have students research their historical person, eventually writing a analytical paper about the similarities and differences between their own life and that of their selected person. Teachers can focus more on similarities to make it more difficult and interesting - but it is a great way to get students thinking about comparing and contrasting.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Days of Infamy - American Radio Works
Grades
6 to 12
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Here's a web site comparing American reactions after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the attacks on the World Trade Center. The real substance of the presentation is a series ...more
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Here's a web site comparing American reactions after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the attacks on the World Trade Center. The real substance of the presentation is a series of slide shows of commentary and "person in the street" reactions to the two events. Transcripts are also available.
tag(s): pearl harbor (14), sept11 (18), terrorism (41), world war 2 (160)
In the Classroom
There are four special topics, Getting the News, Patriotism, The Enemy Among Us, and Sacrifice. Each topic has a slide show and additional information. Divide students into small groups and assign each group a topic to investigate. Use the Cooperative Learning Jigsaw method (small groups), reviewed here. Those with larger classrooms may have a topic or two assigned to two different groups.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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National Park Photographs - National Park Service
Grades
4 to 12
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The National Park Service manages both an incredible inventory of natural wonders and many of America's most historic places. This site makes professional quality images of these -...more
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The National Park Service manages both an incredible inventory of natural wonders and many of America's most historic places. This site makes professional quality images of these - searchable by park - available for classroom use. In a world where copyright is always an issue, this site is a welcome addition.
tag(s): air (102), images (260), national parks (29), photography (121)
In the Classroom
Use this site to search for images of a particular region being studied in a Physical geography class. These images can be incorporated into lectures, projects, displays etc. Just research before-hand what parks are in the specific area, and search away!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Great Lakes Maritime History Project - Wisconsin Historical Society
Grades
6 to 12
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Created by the Wisconsin Historical Society, this site gives users access to a database of images of commerce on the Great Lakes over the past 150 years or ...more
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Created by the Wisconsin Historical Society, this site gives users access to a database of images of commerce on the Great Lakes over the past 150 years or so - primarily dealing with Wisconsin. The contents include photographs, digitized documents, advertising posters, and other material that chronicles traffic on the lakes. Both the search and keyword features are more awkward than they should be, and this likely will relegate this site to use by interested teachers only. It's a pity; there are interesting items here.
tag(s): wisconsin (5)
In the Classroom
Use this site to teach about the evolution of transportation in the US and how that affected areas such as the Midwest and the Great lakes regions. Search this site for primary sources that could be incorporated into your classroom, illustrating the content. These primary sources could be used to teach both the content and historical thinking skills in your classroom. Divide students into 5-6 groups, with each group assigned a different primary source to read and evaluate. (Sources should come from various perspectives to make the game more interesting) Have the groups present quick summaries of their source to the class, making sure to mention who the author is and whether or not there could be bias. After all have presented, have each team pick a representative to argue in front of the class as to why their source is the most reliable and valid. After all have made their argument, have the class vote off the least reliable "survivor style" until you are left with just one!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Art of the Stamp - National Postal Museum
Grades
4 to 12
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Art and Social Studies teachers will find this collection of contemporary stamp artwork interesting both for its style and for the range of themes that have been incorporated into stamps....more
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Art and Social Studies teachers will find this collection of contemporary stamp artwork interesting both for its style and for the range of themes that have been incorporated into stamps. The oversize artwork helps illustrate the details in these images.
tag(s): africa (144), african american (110)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a lesson on the evolution of mail services in the US, and how services such as the pony express was affected by Westward expansion. Allow students to explore the site on classroom computers, using the stamp template as a formative assessment of their understanding. To make the stamp activity more content-based, have students design their stamps to reflect what they learned rather than allowing them to draw anything they can think of. History teachers will like this one!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hidden Pages in Anne Frank's Diary - History
Grades
6 to 12
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This site documents the recent exhibit about Anne Frank's unpublished writings. The site includes an introduction, excerpts from a number of unpublished works, and a series of links...more
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This site documents the recent exhibit about Anne Frank's unpublished writings. The site includes an introduction, excerpts from a number of unpublished works, and a series of links for additional information. This one could be an interesting bridge between a writing assignment and the study of World War II.
tag(s): anne frank (10), holocaust (42), world war 2 (160)
In the Classroom
Use this article (includes a video) as a learning center or station during a unit on WWII in a history class or during a study of her book in an English class. This would be a great way to introduce Anne Frank, the exhibit serving to put all students at the same level of understanding of her life. If in need of some sort of assessment to see what students have learned from the site, challenge students to create an online graphic to share using Visme, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Images of Native Americans - UC Berkeley
Grades
6 to 12
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Of interest to teachers of social studies, American history, or art, this site from UC Berkeley samples over 400 years of artistic portrayals of Native Americans in a variety of ...more
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Of interest to teachers of social studies, American history, or art, this site from UC Berkeley samples over 400 years of artistic portrayals of Native Americans in a variety of settings. The site is notable both for the quality of the images but also for the contexts in which they are presented. Suitable for a wide age range, depending on the amount of guidance the classroom teacher provides.
tag(s): art history (99), native americans (108), painting (55)
In the Classroom
Use this site on a projector or interactive whiteboard to discuss and informally assess prior knowledge as you start your study of Native American Culture. Besure to see the interactive timeline. It could be used to discuss Native American culture both pre-colonialism and during Westward Expansion. Have students research the site in order to better understand the way Indians have been depicted in modern culture rather than the reality. To show what they have learned from this site, extend learning by challenging students to create an online graphic to share using Visme, reviewed here. Visme allows you to choose to create a video, infographic, charts, and others.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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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.
tag(s): 1920s (15), elections (83), politics (117), world war 1 (77)
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.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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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.
tag(s): cultures (172)
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
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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.
tag(s): lewis and clark (14)
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
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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.
tag(s): abolition (7), africa (144), african american (110), slavery (78)
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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