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Democracy in America - C-SPAN
Grades
9 to 12
tag(s): primary sources (117)
In the Classroom
Use the journal entries portion of this site to help students not only learn the content, but to learn to retrieve information from primary sources. Divide students into groups, and assign them each one of the states Tocqueville wrote about. Have students analyze and interpret what was written, with the intentions of presenting their findings to the class. To connect it to the content being studied at the time, have a discussion with students about whether Congress was also concerned or if we see some of the issues he talked about still prevalent today.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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A Biography of America - CPB/Annenberg
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): american revolution (82)
In the Classroom
The possibilities for this site are virtually limitless. Open the site on the interactive whiteboard or projector and select one of the many topics that is applicable to your unit. Teachers can play the video for students to review material, use the map to provide something for visual learners can connect to, or use the time-line to guide student learning. This is really an amazing tool for teachers trying to utilize technology in the classroom!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Papers of George Washington - University of Virginia
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): presidents (135), primary sources (117), washington (28)
In the Classroom
In a discussion of the Revolutionary War or the Founding Fathers, use the pictures and images to supplement your lecture. Very rarely do students get to see time-period appropriate maps, and those provided on the site can be used to show and diagram major battles. The site also provides some excellent primary sources that complement such a unit. An excellent one to look at is his famed "Farewell Address," which can be used for both a revolutionary unit and any on American Diplomacy. Have students read the address as a class, following it with a discussion on how this speech impacted American foreign relations for the next 200 years. A great site for any resources on Washington!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): supreme court (27)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a point of reference for finding material for debates in a US history classroom. Teachers can search for materials to base a debate on, or have students use this site to find supportive evidence for their side of the debate.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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U. S. Historical Documents
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): primary sources (117)
In the Classroom
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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National Archives: Educator Resources - National Archives
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): media literacy (107), primary sources (117)
In the Classroom
This is an excellent site for any history, art history, or civics teacher attempting to put forth something more tangible for students to grasp. Click on "Images of the American Revolution," and open up the pictures on the interactive whiteboard or projector. Question students as to the meaning and context of the illustrations, to help them understand how images were used to convey certain meanings. Ask the students to create their own cartoons about something controversial in their town, or about the unit being studied, and encourage them to use some of the same subtle concepts the original illustrators did.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Colonial Charters - Yale University
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): colonial america (95)
In the Classroom
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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The Avalon Project - Yale University
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): primary sources (117)
In the Classroom
Save this site as a favorite and reference it for primary sources for history units. The timespan covered spans virtually all that would be covered in any US history course, and also offers many documents that would also apply to World or European history courses. Teachers can also refer students to this site for research projects or papers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Statistical Abstract of the United States - US Government
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): demographics (13), population (51), statistics (121)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a point of reference for any and all statistical information about the US population. Teachers can use this to find voter and state information, which would be useful in a discussion about apportion of state delegates in the House of Representatives.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Social Studies Web Sites and Resources
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): black history (131), oral history (13)
In the Classroom
Save this site as a favorite it and browse it whenever in need of new lesson plans and materials within a social studies classroom. This is a great resource for new teachers, or for someone just looking for fresh ideas on how to cover a topic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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History Day Resources! - National Archives
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): history day (39)
In the Classroom
Save this site as a favorite and use it to generate ideas for lesson plans and classroom activities. The lessons can expand to your everyday, it doesn't have to be exclusive to a History day! American History teachers everywhere will appreciate this one.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Presidential Debates Information
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): debate (42), presidents (135)
In the Classroom
If teaching about the historic 1960 television debates, use the videos and transcripts to provide students with something more tangible than the summary in their textbook. Click on the debate history section of the site, selecting the year 1960. There are multiple transcripts and videos that can easily be printed or viewed on the interactive whiteboard. To show the impact of technology, have students listen to the debate before watching - and also select a winner. After, have students repeat the activity; this time through watching the video. Have a class discussion on how seeing the candidates affected their opinions, and whether a similar effect occurred in 1960. Great for a US government classroom!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Judge Nixes Napster - CNN
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
Share this article with students during lessons on copyright. Encourage students to search for other famous cases of copyright infractions. Have students share their research in a multimedia presentation using Sway. Sway offers tools for including images, videos, and more in visually appealing formats.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Library of Congress: for Teachers - U.S. Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): primary sources (117), Research (86)
In the Classroom
Use the learning page as a launch pad for planning your own lessons in conjunction with the vast array of resources available from the Library of Congress. Many of the documents and images are in the public domain and can therefore be used as visuals in other multimedia projects created by teachers and students. Be sure to read the permissions. Share an image on your projector or interactive whiteboard or a voice recording to start a lesson. Assign students to explore and explain collections you select. Be sure to check out the self-directed professional development modules, as well.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Census Quick Facts - US Government
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): census (13), population (51)
In the Classroom
Use this site as the starting point for individual or group projects. Have pairs of students create multimedia presentations about specific states or counties. Have students use a mapping tool such as as Zeemaps, reviewed here, to create a map of the locations they have researched (with audio stories and pictures included)!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Zimmerman Telegram - National Archives
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): world war 1 (77)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this free lesson plan during a unit on WWI. The documents are all provided and the lesson is applicable for grades 7-12.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wyoming
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): states (124)
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North Carolina
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): north carolina (4), states (124)
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West Virginia
Grades
4 to 12Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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New Mexico
Grades
4 to 12Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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