Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Celebrate with this collection of activities that includes an informational essay with reading comprehension questions, a coloring page, and printable worksheets for poetry and creative writing tasks inspired by the Mexican holiday. Many of the printables require Adobe Acrobat.

tag(s): cinco de mayo (10), mexico (37)

This site offers a booklist all related to Cinco de Mayo. Try out these two books and related hands-on activities that explore the traditions and culture of Mexico. There is also a link to other sites for additional information. MOST of these sites were working, at the time of this review. This site does include some advertisements.

tag(s): cinco de mayo (10), mexico (37)

Find Native American nations' own sites and information in this alphabetical index by tribe(with notes as to most recent updates).

This site from the Library of Congress takes a detailed look at the variety of peoples and civilizations that were thriving on the American continents before they were "discovered" by the Europeans. The content includes native peoples of the Caribbean, Mexico, South America, and North America. Try this one as a counterpoint to a traditional explorers unit, or as part of a study of the Maya, Inca, or other native cultures.

tag(s): explorers (64), native americans (108)

This online tool lets you create a timeline of an individual's life using dates from 1000 AD to the present year. Enter the person's name and dates, add events (historic or personal) and their beginning/ending dates, and click the "generate" button.

tag(s): timelines (56)

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)

Click on the interactive map of the United States to select a time zone and view the exact time (within .02 seconds) as well as a map of the world that shows where the sun is shining and where it is night.

tag(s): time (91)

From volcanoes to marine turtles, explore some of Costa Rica's natural wonders. Two lesson plans - one on frogs, the other on volcanic soil - are included in the Teacher Resources section. While a bit heavy on text, and a bit lacking in photographs, the site has great content for student research. Aligned to national standards.

tag(s): oil (22), soil (16), volcanoes (55)

Add this entertaining resource to a study of the Midwestern United States and the Corn Belt. Your students will be "all ears" for this engaging multimedia presentation. While quite regional in content, it does provide students with an understanding of the history and economic importance of this crop. Check out the Teacher Resources for additional information, links to standards, and interdisciplinary connections.

tag(s): agriculture (49)

Participate in an amazing exploration with this virtual field trip of the Arctic. Follow the Team Arctic Transect 2004 and their 31 polar huskies on an unforgettable 3,000-mile adventure as they explore Nunavut, Canada's newest territory. Learn about arctic climate changes, meet Inuit Elders and students in remote communities, and discover the ecology of this isolated region. The team consists of six educators and explorers who comprehensively document their experiences on this interactive site. Free registration is required to download the curriculum and activity guide, and to participate in the on-line classroom features.

tag(s): arctic (40), canada (24)

This site presents information about the South American Amazon region in an interactive quiz format. The people, plants, animals, and climate of this area are explored through text and graphics. Students are challenged to successfully plan and manage a locally controlled ecotourism site in a simulation game provided on the site. Can be used to supplement a unit on environmental science or a social studies lesson about the indigenous people of South America. Created by Educational Web Adventures.

tag(s): amazon (11), ecosystems (83), south america (47)

This on-line exhibition allows visitors to follow the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, explore the cultural landscape they encountered, and browse through a collection of over 350 artifacts that document the first transcontinental journey across North America. Highlights of this beautifully designed site include an interactive map, audio clips providing sounds associated with each place along the journey, and readings from words written by members of the expedition. Links to related themes are provided throughout the site. This is an outstanding resource that accurately presents many facets of this pivotal even in American history. Though this is a Legacy Unit and no longer supported, the information is excellent and well worth your visit.

tag(s): lewis and clark (14), louisiana (6), louisiana purchase (5)

This truly engaging site will whet your students' appetites for learning. The history and origin of chocolate (from its start in the Amazon rainforests to its invasion of Europe) is presented through photographs, images, and an easy to understand text. Possible health effects, both positive and negative, are discussed, and the process of "tempering" is explored with a step by step experiment that can be reproduced in the classroom. A virtual tour takes visitors inside the Scharffen Berger Chocolate Factory in San Francisco for an up-close look at the chocolate making process. Created by the Exploratorium. (Requires RealVideo)

tag(s): chocolate (4)

Tour the most influential show in the history of American art. The paintings and sculptures featured in this collection of 18 virtual galleries document of the emergence of modernism, the radical break with artistic tradition, and the corresponding public reactions. The nature of many of the representative works makes this site most appropriate for mature students. Use this resource to generate discussion and encourage analysis of how this historic exhibition affected the development of American art. Created by the American Studies Program at the University of Virginia.

tag(s): art history (102), artists (84)

This history of French exploration and settlement in what is now Canada is elegantly designed, and it shows the striking contrast between the aims of French colonists and those of their English counterparts to the south. Because the site relies almost entirely on archival images - with minimal explanatory text - it may be difficult for some students to use effectively. Still, the site offers a marked contrast to the "colonizing America" stories students hear more frequently.

tag(s): canada (24), colonial america (95), explorers (64), france (41)

This site has wonderful resources for learning about Canadian history and Canadian explorers. Whether you're interested in early exploration in general, or specific history of the Nation, this site has information on each of Canada's multiple explorers, as well as a sequential look at the evolution of the landmass. A great site for social studies resources from the 11th through 20th Centuries.

tag(s): canada (24), landforms (39)

Here's a guide to Peru created by a pair of students. There are links on Peruvian history, climate, and lots more. While not fully authoritative, this content seems well suited to a student-to-student application.

tag(s): peru (5)

This searchable site provides resources for teaching geography and culture. Currently, the page's "expeditions" are limited to Baja California, American Southwest, Southern Africa, Oaxaca Mexico, and Peru.

tag(s): africa (148), mexico (37), peru (5)

This site is part of a set of detailed cultural, political, and historical summaries created by the Library's Federal Research Service. The emphasis is on less commonly studied nations, and the material will be challenging for some students.

tag(s): south america (47)

This site is part of a set of detailed cultural, political, and historical summaries created by the Library's Federal Research Service. The emphasis is on less commonly studied nations, and the material will be challenging for some students.

tag(s): south america (47)