1273 american-history results | sort by:
return to subject listingWhen the Personal Becomes Presidential - New York Times Learning Network
Grades
6 to 12The lesson plan starts with the familiar "read the story and discuss" format, but there are a number of good essential questions and extension activities provided that could be tailored into a strong classroom plan. The lesson plans have cross-curricular suggestions, and are tied to standards.
tag(s): elections (80), presidents (122)
In the Classroom
Be sure help your weaker readers and ELL students by sharing the listed vocabulary words prior to reading, either on a handout or by projecting on an interactive whiteboard and highlighting them in the text as you come to them.Use this lesson to discuss current events in politics (which changes daily). Have students discuss and debate the current issues. Have the students write a wiki about a current event in politics (for example, Governor Palin being the first woman VP on the GOP ticket).
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The Pocahontas Myth - The Powhatan Renape Nation
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
Students usually enjoy "debunking" myths of history and learning ways that their teachers or textbooks might be wrong. This site provides another viewpoint in the well-known Pocahontas story. There are also possibilities here for discussions of racial stereotyping and the way Pocahontas is portrayed in the media, particularly in the Walt Disney film. Use this discussion to prompt a persuasive writing assignment or history essay on differeing views of history.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Fourth of July - Teacher Resources - TeacherVision
Grades
2 to 8In the Classroom
Get an interactive whiteboard and test your students' knowledge of Independence Day with the online quizzes. There are so many choices for observing July 4th, with any grade level, that you can't go wrong! It's a bonus that some activities will lend themselves to small group work.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Vincent Voice Library - Michigan State University
Grades
3 to 12Requires Quick time. Videos require RealPlayer. Get these plug-ins from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..
tag(s): authors (105), news (229), poetry (190), speech (66), speeches (18)
In the Classroom
Play a recording of a famous speech or video relevant to today's lesson as students enter the room (turn up your speakers!). Or have your students create multimedia presentations using these sounds in the background, such as portraits orf a decade, an author study, or a moment in history.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Celebrate Mother's Day in a New Way - Education World
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mothers day (13), sociology (22), statistics (116)
In the Classroom
If you are looking for some new ideas to use in your classroom, check out these lessons. They are ready to go, highly creative topics, and most importantly - FREE.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Easter Lesson Plans - Teachnology
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Use these free lesson plans with your students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Legacy of Ireland - Ireland Now
Grades
2 to 8tag(s): holidays (167), ireland (10), st patricks day (11)
In the Classroom
Use this site for research about St. Patrick's Day or Ireland. Have cooperative learning groups research various topics at this site. Enhance learning by having the groups create a multimedia presentation using: Slides, reviewed here, a slide show, Site123, reviewed here, a blog or webpage, PBWorks, reviewed here, a wiki, Typito reviewed here, a video creation tool. Share the videos on a tool such as SchoolTube, reviewed here, or all presentations on your class webpage or wiki.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Public Domain Books On-Line - Jeff Kelley
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): air (105)
In the Classroom
Because these books are in the public domain (i.e. older), their language is not "contemporary." The texts would make excellent pieces for reading comprehension passages or culture study of past times, and you need not be worried about copying/pasting text from these into other software and/or making copies. You could even use them as passages on an interactive whiteboard to practice "main idea" or parts of speech.The illustrations are simple and beautiful. Print out some great artwork for your classroom bulletin boards, copyright-free!
The myths/legends collection would be great for upper elementary or later mythology units. Students can also use the passages and illustrations to create multimedia "tales" of their own. Give them the opening passage and let them write the rest.
Comments
The myths/legends collection would be great for upper elementary or later mythology unitsDavid, VA, Grades: 4 - 8
The illustrations are simple and beautiful.David, VA, Grades: 4 - 8
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Story Corps - NPR
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): digital storytelling (144), podcasts (81)
In the Classroom
Use this site to reconnect your students with those of other generations and geographic locations. Turn up your speakers and listen to some examples in your classroom. You can even use the story collection site as a model to start your own oral history project for your class or the entire school. You may not want to actually place your recording on the NPR site but instead house them locally in your school or community web site. As major events occur in your community, such as an anniversary or the opening of a new school, engage your students in documenting the event. The general interview guides offer useful interview techniques for school newspapers or news broadcasts, as well.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Old Magazine Articles - Matt Jacobsen
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 20th century (61)
In the Classroom
This is a fabulous primary document site packed with useful resources for social studies teachers. Because the entries are all in PDF format, each can be printed and copied for classroom list. According to the owner of the site, the information is all in the public domain and can be freely distributed. Entries are continually being added. For the serious researcher, there isn't always exact bibliographic information included with each entry for use in citations. However, for classroom use, or for use on interactive whiteboards, this archive is exceptionally useful... and it's FREE!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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CPC: Civil War Flags - Capitol Preservation Committee
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): civil war (135), flags (17), pennsylvania (6)
In the Classroom
The site would be helpful for students researching specific Pennsylvania Civil War units, or for teachers wishing to present images of Civil War flags as part of a discussion on battle tactics or military organization. The images of the "national colors" or U.S. flags may have interest beyond an examination of Pennsylvania's role in the Civil War.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Anne Frank Center - Anne Frank Center USA
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): anne frank (10), world war 2 (151)
In the Classroom
A "scrapbook" section would be very effective on a projector or interactive whiteboard. The scrapbook might function as a good anticipatory activity to set up a unit on the diary, although it does give away the ending of the story. There is also a section for teachers which includes some downloadable handouts, a bibliography and other resources.If you are teaching about World War II, this would be a good resource to share on your teacher web pages for independent projects.
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The Costumer's Manifesto - Tara Maginnis, Ph.D
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): costumes (3)
In the Classroom
This is a HUGE site worth dipping into for everything from history of clothing to wedding rituals and ceremonies of all kinds. As you introduce the setting of a new piece of literature or study of a new historical period, share this site to make another time "real" to your fashion-conscious teens. Include this site for fashion, costuming, or customs as one of the student research topics for a time period or lit study.Note: The site is not terribly attractive as a set of links. It also has advertising and links to "outside" topics. Give precise directions for where students should go.
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National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Within the Classroom Resources section of this website to look for free lesson plans and classroom activities. The lessons are organized by grade level, so be sure to pass it along to peers in other grade levels. Save this one as a favorite to allow for easy access and retrieval.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Flash Earth
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Use a projector or whiteboard to share a location as art of the background knowledge for a lesson. Be sure to add this link to your teacher web page as a reference tool, as well. Be aware that some world locations have much "fuzzier" satellite images than others. Always preview before your lesson to be sure you can show the features you want students to see. Show elementary students where their "neighborhood" is, perhaps even their streets!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Biography Timeline Templates - National Geographic
Grades
2 to 8tag(s): time (92)
In the Classroom
Perfect for an interactive white board demonstration of time lines. A great add-on to informational pieces as an appendix, supplemental material or visual explanation. Include the time line activity as part of a social studies unit on family history or as part of research projects on authors or famous people.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Trading Card Maker - BigHugeLabs.com
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): book reports (28), famous people (21), images (257)
In the Classroom
Upload and tag your photo, type information, and print cards. Download finished card to your computer. Use for book reports for literature circles with each student in the group making a card for a different character in the book. This is also an excellent idea for special occasions for special people: mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, school nurse, school secretary, school custodian, favorite aunt, or anyone else! Be sure to print onto cover stock and laminate (if possible). What fabulous (and memorable) gifts. Check out the Big Huge Labs educator account. Easily pre-register students to avoid creating logins, view and download their creations, and view the site advertisement free. You will find information about the Educator Account here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The American Experience: Remember the Alamo - PBS
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): texas (7)
In the Classroom
Ask students to compare several different rallying cries from American history ("Remember Pearl Harbor," "I have not yet begun to fight," "Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes," and "Remember the Maine") that could provide a nice overview of how society comes to embrace a war as a patriotic duty.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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NOVA Wings of Madness - PBS
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
Flying has always fascinated us, and flying failures are sometimes more interesting than successes. Students will know all about the Wright Brothers; they are unlikely to have heard of Alberto Santos-Dumont. The interactives are terrific and the paper airplanes would make a good hands-on activity. The readings about Santos-Dumont would also make good selections for a reading teacher trying to find motivating readings to teach comprehension strategies.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Milestones of Flight - Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
Sometimes you need complexity, but sometimes you just need a simple set of graphics. This site is the latter, but it does it so well! The timeline is marked by thumbnail pictures of each flying machine. Clicking on the machine brings you to a complete desciption of the craft and its significance. Of course this is part of the complete National Air and Space Museum site which is crammed full of interesting stuff. But this section cuts to the chase: what machines flew and when?Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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