Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Choose your character - and participate in an interactive game that teaches European culture and geography. Find many other games on this site about European culture on this site, plus an interactive timeline.

tag(s): cultures (211), europe (84), french (74), german (48), italian (31)

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 (52)

If Victorian literature or history is part of your curriculum, don't miss this site that features a rather impressive virtual stroll through a gallery of recreated Victorian businesses. You can browse through the shops and offices, peek through windows, and explore back street craftsmen's workshops. Read More links provide visitors with additional background and social context. Add this site to a study of Dickens and 19th century England.

tag(s): britain (26), england (49), victorian (16)

This practical research tool provides useful, kid-friendly information about each of the fifty states. Students can learn about the census, discover state-related facts, and test their knowledge with some challenging quiz questions. An interactive map serves as an easy navigational tool to reveal state-by-state information including total population, urban and rural residences, school enrollment, and languages spoken.

tag(s): states (125)

Discover the culture of ancient China with this outstanding, interactive site that explores its artisans, geography, tombs, writings, and more. Each section of the site provides historical information, a story, an in-depth exploration, and a challenge. The challenge activities promote higher level thinking and are ideal for independent practice and review.

tag(s): china (81), chinese (45)

This rather specialized resource takes a look at six former political leaders who created entire political regimes: Mussolini, Ceausescu, Hitler, Hirohito, Stalin, and Tito, and examines their respective regime. Concise text, maps, photographs, and sound bytes, contribute to a multimedia experience that provides a clear and compelling introduction to these six political systems. A glossary, series of timelines, and links to related sites make this a very user-friendly site for student research.

tag(s): hitler (6)

Students can test their core knowledge of English, French, German, math, social studies and more with this entertaining collection of interactive quizzes, puzzles and games. Click on the Learning Hub and select a level (elementary, middle school, or high school) to explore age-appropriate challenges across content areas. Many of the activities on this site are free, but registration and a fee are required to access some of the special features.

tag(s): quiz (66), quizzes (90)

The issue of worldwide overpopulation is addressed in this site that explores the problem as well as potential solutions. Population facts and figures are presented along with descriptions of crises concerning natural resources, endangered species, the environment, and urbanization. This is a timely and thought-provoking resource that can generate some purposeful class discussion.

tag(s): population (51)

This Website presents the stories behind the farms, homes, people, and culture of Midwestern America. The American Dream is traced through historical photographs documenting the booming family farms that once dotted the landscape. Students can take a virtual tour of a prairie farmhouse, and explore the "literary connection" by following links to classic works inspired by rural America. This would be an excellent addition to a unit on westward expansion or twentieth century American literature. There is plenty of information at this site to learn from, though the sections labeled "virtual" require Flash.

tag(s): agriculture (52)

This informative site delves into the ancient tradition of the Olympic games and provides brief, but interesting essays on Olympic myths, games for women, and the history behind Olympic competition. There is also a new link all about the cultural heritage of Beijing.

tag(s): greece (47), greek (47), greeks (46), olympics (46), sports (84)

This factual guide to understanding world religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism) presents historical information, basic beliefs, and common practices in a clear, unbiased format. Links to other helpful resources are provided, including full-length audio clips from related BBC programs - in RealPlayer format only. This is a concise and useful resource for any World Religions or World Cultures class. From BBC World Service.

tag(s): religions (112)

This site contains some riveting resources that would be valuable for use in a 20th century American History class. The "Teachers' Web" up and running and the oral history interviews, available as audio files, are wonderfully revealing primary sources. If you are interesting in presenting the Vietnam War from a very personal, human perspective, consider using this on-line archive. The site also provides a collection of historical photographs and tips for conducting Oral History interviews - an unforgettable learning experience for your students!

tag(s): 1960s (26), 1970s (10), asia (125), vietnam (38)

This well-organized site presents an authentic and factual view of the Holocaust in a format appropriate for middle and high school students. Text, historical photographs, maps, images of artifacts, and audio clips provide a riveting experience for visitors. This resource is organized by themes which include Nazi Rule, Jews in Germany, the "Final Solution," Nazi Camps, and Rescue and Resistance. Each theme is supported by in-depth information, a helpful glossary and timeline, and a list of key dates and events.

tag(s): holocaust (43), jews (50), nazis (8), world war 2 (162)

This thought-provoking site brings together analysis from a variety of sources to help students understand the many facets of the war on Iraq. Interviews with war correspondents, policymakers, and military leaders are presented along with a timeline of events, and a revealing video describing the bitter debate between the U.S. Army and the Pentagon. The teacher materials provided on the site assume that students have viewed a companion video; however, the "pre-viewing" lesson plan can be used independently to provide background knowledge or summarize a current events discussion.

tag(s): iraq (25)

This virtual archaeological experience provides visitors with an up close and personal introduction to the Valley of the Kings. From the digs at Thebes, where students can zoom into the atlas and explore tombs by watching movies, to interactive diagrams and revealing thumbnail shots, the experience of revealing the secrets of an ancient culture is impressively simulated. Other features of the site include interactive maps that can be used to measure distance and elevation, printable tomb maps in PDF format, an exhaustive archaeological and image database, and a comprehensive timeline and glossary.

tag(s): egypt (59), pyramids (24)

Visual arts and social commentary come together in this site that looks at human history through the lens of artists and illustrators. Topics include graphic arts in wartime, 19th century news illustrations, and art under duress. Use this site to provoke discussion, guide reflective writing, or inspire personal artistic expression. These compelling images would make very effective anticipatory sets when projected in the classroom.

tag(s): cold war (31), world war 2 (162)

Help your students gain an accurate cultural understanding of the people of Iraq with this comprehensive resource that presents scholarly unbiased information. Topics include breaking news, an interactive map of Iraq, the modern history of Islam, Muslim sects, underlying causes of the crisis, the Muslim response to the war, and so much more. Because of the overwhelming amount of information on this site, make sure that you provide some direction for your students. Use this source as a starting point for independent research projects, web quests, or current events analysis

tag(s): iraq (25)

World history, U.S. history, rhetoric and debate, health, and technology are addressed by this comprehensive examination of some of the greatest disasters in maritime history - the Titanic, the Lusitania, and the Empress of Ireland. Full lesson plans (these are really outstanding!), aligned with national standards are provided. Topics include The Blame Game (a great role-playing experience), Bigger, Faster, Stronger, Higher (a comparison of the Titanic and Challenger disasters), and Titanic Artifacts (what we've discovered about the lives of those lost). Students can even learn about effective Internet search strategies in the Lost Liners scavenger hunt activity.

tag(s): disasters (37), oceans (149)

In the late 1980s, perfectly preserved 3,000 year old mummies began appearing in a remote desert in China. Surprisingly, they possessed the physical characteristics of Europeans and did not appear to be ancestors of the modern-day Chinese. Where did they come from? How were they preserved? What can linguistics reveal about such ancient people? The site explores these unsolved mysteries and makes connections to similar finds throughout the world.

tag(s): china (81), europe (84)