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Justice on Trial - Minnesota Public Radio
Grades
9 to 12
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What is the proper role of international courts in keeping world order? This site from the American Radioworks series examines the precedents, premises, and problems inherent in using...more
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What is the proper role of international courts in keeping world order? This site from the American Radioworks series examines the precedents, premises, and problems inherent in using international law to punish war criminals and keep the peace internationally. AP high school students will find this one a challenging issue. There is plenty of information to learn and discuss on this site.
tag(s): courts (19)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on International Trials or the legal consequences of Genocide in a US government or history course. The site is a little text-heavy, and would work best with higher level high school classes. To assess student learning and differentiate between the trial events, have students create a timeline describing the events of all three events. We recommend using an online tool such as Timelline Infographic Templates, reviewed here.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Defending Rights and Dissent
Grades
9 to 12
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This is the home page for one of many organizations that have sprung up over the past years seeking to protect Constitutional rights in the face of increasing government efforts ...more
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This is the home page for one of many organizations that have sprung up over the past years seeking to protect Constitutional rights in the face of increasing government efforts to learn more about individual activities. They voice concerns about aspects of the USA Patriot Act and several other executive orders issued since the 9/11 attacks - up to Protests Under Fire (defending the right to protest) . This content could be the basis for an interesting "What do you think..." discussion in a social studies, history, or government course.
tag(s): bill of rights (28), constitution (87), terrorism (41)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a source for a class debate on the entire bill of rights, or a particular one. Provide this site for students on the teacher webpage to allow students to access it both in and out of the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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After 9/11 - SSRC Teaching Resources - Social Studies Research Council
Grades
9 to 12
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The Social Studies Research Council has collected an impressive collection of essays and articles on topics relating to the aftermath of 9/11 and American foreign and domestic policies...more
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The Social Studies Research Council has collected an impressive collection of essays and articles on topics relating to the aftermath of 9/11 and American foreign and domestic policies since then. Thematically indexed, it offers a wide range of perspectives on issues such as balancing personal freedoms and national security. AP government, social studies, and history teachers will find this one especially useful.
tag(s): constitution (87), freedom of speech (13), speech (66), terrorism (41)
In the Classroom
Use these teaching guides and lesson plans in your classroom. The site also has lists internet sources that could be good resources for any students working on a research paper or project. If applicable, list the site on the class wiki or web page to allow students to explore the resources listed on their own.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What is it Like to Live in the White House? - US Government
Grades
4 to 12
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Created by the White House, this "inside look" starts with several historical, humorous tidbits about family life in the White House, and then moves on to many wonderful collections...more
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Created by the White House, this "inside look" starts with several historical, humorous tidbits about family life in the White House, and then moves on to many wonderful collections to investigate. All of the collections have photos, images and interviews. There are also a number of historical tidbits scattered through the site - just enough to show how the nation's first home has changed over the years. Add this one to your list of "What's it really like???" sites.
tag(s): white house (15)
In the Classroom
Have cooperative learning groups explore this site during a lesson on the White House and its' history. Have students create a multimedia presentation using Microsoft PowerPoint Online, reviewed here. Microsoft PowerPoint Online allows you 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 - summarizing the history of the White House. To find Creative Commons images for student projects (with credit, of course), try 4 Free Photos, reviewed here, or Bing Images, reviewed here. This would be a great review activity before an end of the year assessment, or a quiz on the topic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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World War II Relocation Camps - National Park Service
Grades
9 to 12
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Part of the National Park Service "Teaching with Historic Places" series, this site uses the Manzanar Japanese-American internment camp as a starting point for an exploration of the...more
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Part of the National Park Service "Teaching with Historic Places" series, this site uses the Manzanar Japanese-American internment camp as a starting point for an exploration of the internment activities that took place during World War II. As with other lessons in this series, the lesson asks students to interpret archival photos and draw conclusions from the images and contemporary accounts of the internment.
tag(s): japan (56), japanese (47), world war 2 (149)
In the Classroom
This is a very detailed and intricate lesson that can easily last a few days. However it is very informative and provides information about Japanese internment camps that is often brushed over in the book. Take advantage of this great lesson plan during a unit on WWII or discrimination in the United States.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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History and Politics Out Loud
Grades
9 to 12
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Here's a small site we hope will grow quickly. There are recordings and videos of famous political speeches - including William Jennings Bryan's "cross of gold" and Churchill's famous...more
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Here's a small site we hope will grow quickly. There are recordings and videos of famous political speeches - including William Jennings Bryan's "cross of gold" and Churchill's famous "iron curtain" speech. Interestingly, many of these are in their entirety, making for listening sessions of an hour or more. History teachers will find numerous possibilities for this one, especially if the collection continues to grow. If your district block YouTube the videos will not be viewable.
In the Classroom
Use this site to supplement a lecture on Martin Luther King and the impact of his "I have a dream" speech. Browse the results by speaker and select the speech under King's collection. After discussing King's role in civil rights, play the clip or as much of it as you can for students. Use the audio as a writing prompt, in which students respond to the difference in hearing vs reading the speech. Students should also respond to the emotional appeal of the speech, in addition to the overall message presented. This activity would be a great short review at the end of a unit on MLK Jr.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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End Game - Ethics and Values in America - PBS NewsHour
Grades
9 to 12
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PBS tackles greed, honesty, and the gray areas that separate vice from virtue in this series on America's ethics. While many viewers will think about the business implications of the...more
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PBS tackles greed, honesty, and the gray areas that separate vice from virtue in this series on America's ethics. While many viewers will think about the business implications of the series, the producers put the focus at a more personal level. Depending on your local situation, this site could be useful in business, guidance, or similar applications - or simply as a homeroom discussion starter for older students.
tag(s): ethics (23)
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Civil War Classroom Activities - PBS
Grades
6 to 12
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Based on the Ken Burns PBS production that aired in 1990, this collection of lesson plans is complete, thought-provoking, and covers a wide range of topics whose relevance extends well...more
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Based on the Ken Burns PBS production that aired in 1990, this collection of lesson plans is complete, thought-provoking, and covers a wide range of topics whose relevance extends well beyond the war itself. Designed for use in grades 7-12, these one- and two-period lessons are well-annotated, include lots of web links, and come complete with downloadable PDF files. Students will find these an interesting set of source ideas for reports and the like, and teachers will be able to take this content in many different directions. Well worth a look!
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and classroom activities offered in this site! The majority are somehow tied into the video, but there are some that also are broad enough that showing the video is not necessary.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Star Spangled Banner - Smithsonian
Grades
6 to 12
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Learn about the flag that inspired the National Anthem at this Smithsonian site. The site includes a quiz, a teacher section, and descriptive information about the flag, the War of...more
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Learn about the flag that inspired the National Anthem at this Smithsonian site. The site includes a quiz, a teacher section, and descriptive information about the flag, the War of 1812, and the battle at Fort McHenry that inspired Francis Scott Key's poem.
tag(s): national anthem (3), war of 1812 (14)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an introductory activity for a lesson on the Flag's creating during a unit on the American Revolutionary War. Introduce the site on the interactive whiteboard before allowing students to explore it in cooperative learning groups on classroom computers. Have the students search the site with, answering specific questions on a follow-along (created by you) that encourages them to explore the site in depth. For help with making that follow-along, we recommend using Graphic Organizer Maker, (reviewed here). Afterward, have a class discussion or some sort of reflection piece to allow students to vocalize questions and opinions about the information presented.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Best of History Web Sites
Grades
9 to 12
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Maybe there really can be "too much of a good thing." This site is an immense catalog of resources (ie. other websites, lessons plans, content) for social studies teachers. Due ...more
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Maybe there really can be "too much of a good thing." This site is an immense catalog of resources (ie. other websites, lessons plans, content) for social studies teachers. Due to the sheer volume of material, it would be wise for teachers to have a clear idea of what they are looking for before opening up the site. Casual "grazing" here might easily lead to a becoming lost on the web.
tag(s): europe (75)
In the Classroom
Save this site as a favorite on your classroom desktop and use it as a reference for virtually everything! It's amazing how many resources they have managed to find - incredibly more helpful than a Google search would have been.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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America's Founding Documents - National Archives
Grades
6 to 12
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Though part of a larger site about America's historic documents, this collection of biographies of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention will find plenty of use by itself....more
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Though part of a larger site about America's historic documents, this collection of biographies of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention will find plenty of use by itself. These delegates wrote our Constitution, but today's students know very little about any of them. Find the details of each man's life here!
tag(s): american revolution (81), constitution (87), evolution (85)
In the Classroom
This is a great site to introduce the American Founding Fathers, or for reference around Presidents Day weekend. Introduce the site on the interactive whiteboard or projector, during a lesson on the individual fathers. Have students look at the site, and select one image that they think represents a particular Founding Father. 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. To find Creative Commons images for student projects (with credit, of course), try Pikwizard, reviewed here. Have them report a story on the founding fathers as if the issue of the constitution is a current one, and they are informing the public of its happenings.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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FireWise
Grades
6 to 12
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Though not designed specifically for students, this site, containing a wealth of information on ways to minimize dangers to people from forest fires, includes many examples of how man...more
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Though not designed specifically for students, this site, containing a wealth of information on ways to minimize dangers to people from forest fires, includes many examples of how man and his environment can be at odds with one another. In addition to the scientific issues involved in fire control and prevention, this site would contribute to a discussion on ecosystems and encroachment into wilderness areas.
tag(s): ecosystems (72), environment (240), fire (22), fire prevention (16), fire safety (16)
In the Classroom
As your students study about safety or environmental issues, include this site as a resource. Ask students to create a fire pro and con list as they discuss the more obvious safety issues of fire and the balancing role that fire can play in renewing habitats and nature's cycles. Extend learning by using an online graphic organizer tool such as bubbl.us, reviewed here, to map out the many impacts that wildland fires can have.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Children's Internet Protection and the Courts - A Context - American Library Association
Grades
6 to 12
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Here's a concise explanation of what the Supreme Court did and did not do when it ruled that public libraries cannot consitutionally filter web content. Written by an attorney, but...more
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Here's a concise explanation of what the Supreme Court did and did not do when it ruled that public libraries cannot consitutionally filter web content. Written by an attorney, but in layman's terms, the site sheds light on the principles behind the decision, and may be useful for school librarians or those interested in first amendment issues.
tag(s): freedom of speech (13), internet safety (113), speech (66)
In the Classroom
This would be a great case study for a discussion on freedom of speech.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow - PBS
Grades
6 to 12
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This is the companion site to a PBS program of the same name. It offers an introduction to the Jim Crow laws that effectively institutionalized segregation throughout the South. There...more
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This is the companion site to a PBS program of the same name. It offers an introduction to the Jim Crow laws that effectively institutionalized segregation throughout the South. There are also numerous images of African American life in the South during the early 1900s.This looks like a promising resource, especially as a backgrounder for the study of the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
tag(s): 1900s (73), africa (137), african american (109), civil rights (194), segregation (18)
In the Classroom
True to its claim, this is an educator's site; it contains lesson plans, simulations, narratives, and picture galleries and more. The site may be useful for both American History and American Literature classes.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Declaring Independence - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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This extensive site from the Library of Congress explains the details of the drafting of the Declaration of Independence as well as the obstacles the Continental Congress faced in publishing...more
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This extensive site from the Library of Congress explains the details of the drafting of the Declaration of Independence as well as the obstacles the Continental Congress faced in publishing their work. Like many of the LoC sites, the narrative works best for secodary students, but the images will be fascinating to younger classes as well. This is a great addition to American history or government units on American independence.
tag(s): american revolution (81), declaration of independence (15), evolution (85)
In the Classroom
Open this site on the interactive whiteboard or projector, and go through the "exhibits" offered with students. Allow students to peruse it on their own in cooperative learning groups. This would be a great review activity, as students may only grasp the importance of the primary documents once they have learned the greater context. To show what they have learned from this site, challenge students to create an online infographic to share using Visme, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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NetState
Grades
4 to 8
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Minimal historical information, basic almanac facts, interesting lists of "famous sons and daughters." This site is far from one-stop shopping, but there's useful information here....more
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Minimal historical information, basic almanac facts, interesting lists of "famous sons and daughters." This site is far from one-stop shopping, but there's useful information here.
tag(s): states (122)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a reference for students working on a research project on the 50 states. Have students work on "state reports" during a unit on the geography of the 50 states, using this site as a point of reference. To show what they have learned from this site, challenge students to create an online graphic to share using DesignBold, reviewed here. Assign students specific states to research and report on, presenting their graphics to their classmates.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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50states.com
Grades
4 to 8
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This site offers metalists (most of the content isn't theirs) for each state, including bios of presidents from that state, attractions, public records, and more. There's much more...more
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This site offers metalists (most of the content isn't theirs) for each state, including bios of presidents from that state, attractions, public records, and more. There's much more than history items at this site, which may or may not be an advantage.
tag(s): states (122)
In the Classroom
There are a lot of ads from this site, so if using be sure to forewarn students not to access any of the side links. Use this site if creating state profiles during an American History class. This activity works best if accompanied by a guided graphic organizer or worksheet - we recommend using Graphic Organizer Maker, (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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AMDOCS - Univ. of Kansas
Grades
6 to 12
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Created at the University of Kansas, this collection of primary sources offers coverage from the 15th century through the present, making it useful for both early and contemporary history....more
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Created at the University of Kansas, this collection of primary sources offers coverage from the 15th century through the present, making it useful for both early and contemporary history. Many of the documents are on third-party sites, so expect some level of change over time.
tag(s): american revolution (81), history day (40)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the hundreds of available primary sources on this site. History teachers can use these documents for a variety of activities, from supplementing the text to using them to teach students how to analyze the validity of sources. The documents are organized by date, and can benefit both World History classes in addition to American History.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Japanese Americans and the Constitution - Smithsonian Institution
Grades
6 to 12
4 Favorites
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The Smithsonian presents this nicely-designed site describing the internment and discrimination against Japanese Americans during World War II. Students can listen to an audio introduction...more
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The Smithsonian presents this nicely-designed site describing the internment and discrimination against Japanese Americans during World War II. Students can listen to an audio introduction which provides a summary of the events of the period, and sets the stage for the larger presentation. This one is well worth a visit.
tag(s): constitution (87), japan (56), japanese (47), world war 2 (149)
In the Classroom
This site is a great way to address the topics of racism and the Japanese internment in your classroom. Teachers can either save this and use it as a learning center or have the students do it together on classroom computers. Don't teach this topic without looking at this site first!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Inventing Entertainment - the Edison Recordings - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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Much of the content in this Library of Congress site about Thomas Edison and his phonographs is beyond the scope of middle schoolers. However, there are sound recordings from the ...more
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Much of the content in this Library of Congress site about Thomas Edison and his phonographs is beyond the scope of middle schoolers. However, there are sound recordings from the original machines that let students listen to the product of Edison's work, and the basic biographical information will be useful for those studying inventors. Explore this one in some depth; there's a lot here.
tag(s): inventors and inventions (71)
In the Classroom
Download some of the sounds and recordings from the database, and use them as part of a learning center during a unit on Inventions & Inventors. Have students listen to the recordings (make sure to include headphones) on classroom computers, writing a short reflection afterwards about what they heard and what their impression was. Students could also compare and contrast the quality of the recordings, noting the vast differences in technology between then and now. This would be a very interesting resource for a US history classroom!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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