Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Learn about the colorful life and world of Ben Franklin through this series of eight downloadable lesson plans that explore the statesman's many talents and contributions. Topics include Poor Richard's Almanack, superstition vs. science, volunteerism and citizenship, colonial "broadsides" and almanacs, the art of invention, and more. Aligned to National Standards.
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Google Maps gives you live visuals of any location, ideal for planning a trip, picturing the relationship between places, and viewing physical characteristics of almost anywhere in the world. Type or paste in an address and click "search maps." If you click Satellite or hybrid versions of the map, you will see actual satellite images of the terrain. Zoom in and out, use the street view "orange man" to walk among the buildings and trees, or plan and share a route easily with Google Maps. Using your (free) Google membership allows you to save favorite places and more. Find businesses and other features near a specific map location: hotels, restaurants, schools, parks, and more. Google Maps has become more and more sophisticated, now offering many features previously only available in Google Earth, such as opening and/or saving placemarker files. Unlike Google Earth, Google Maps does not require software installation and does not use as much bandwidth for constant reloading. You can even play a tour of places you mark in Google Maps. They just keep adding more features! Google Maps is available as a free app for Android and iOS, too. The handy embed codes let you put any Google Map in a web page, blog, or wiki. Of course you do not need a membership or any special skills to simply SEE, share, or navigate a map. Membership gives you more ways to save.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (146), directions (11), maps (224)

Learn about life in colonial America and compare everyday life in two different 18th century colonies - one in Delaware and one in Massachusetts. This lesson brings students in contact with artifacts from the thirteen original colonies, takes them to some outstanding interactive Web sites for background information, and asks them to write letters from the point of view of the colonists in each location. Downloadable worksheets provided. Aligned to National Standards.

tag(s): colonial america (95), massachusetts (7)

The cherished right of Freedom of Speech is carefully analyzed in this thoughtful unit plan that illustrates the delicate balance between rights and responsibilities in a free society. A series of six lessons guides upper elementary students through an authentic scenario in which the expressive rights of individuals are in question, provides connections to constitutional interpretations, and analyzes related Supreme Court cases. Aligned to Standards.

tag(s): bill of rights (34), freedom of speech (14), speech (69)

Use deductive reasoning skills to isolate the diverse factors that contributed to the Great Depression. This standards-based lesson plan leads students through Internet research and analysis of related economic writings to the creation of a concept map illustrating the interdependence between businesses in a market economy. Aligned to National Standards.

tag(s): business (54)

Bring the Battle of Bunker Hill to life with the personal accounts and eyewitness descriptions provided on this impressive site. A wonderful collection of maps, drawing, broadsides, and artifacts from the battlefield are also included. A great research tool that introduces students to the value of primary source information.

tag(s): colonial america (95), massachusetts (7)

The unmasking of "deep throat," the shadowy informant in the Watergate saga, has prompted a new wave of interest in the sandal that changed American government forever. This retrospective from the Washington Post provides not only a current summary, but a review of the original coverage, from the newspaper that broke the story.

tag(s): 1970s (10), water (105)

This outstanding site takes visitors on an expansive tour of Jefferson's Monticello. Explore the 5,000 acre plantation with an interactive map, or navigate a three-dimensional recreation of the house and learn about the people and objects that populated its rooms. Captions lead visitors through a house tour and description of domestic life in the historic home. Some of the "captions" are videos. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): american revolution (86), evolution (89), jefferson (19), virginia (15), virtual field trips (132)

This searchable electronic encyclopedia provides a comprehensive chronicle of Chicago's colorful and complex history. From Mrs. O'Leary's cow, to Al Capone and the city's infamous stockyards, the site provides thousands of articles, photos, maps, broadsides and newspapers, and interactive components. It's a fascinating research tool for understanding the evolution of an American city and the people and events that helped shape American society. Visit the "Users' Guide" for an overview of the site's many features.

tag(s): chicago (4), illinois (6)

Capture the excitement and adventure of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with this beautifully crafted and continually evolving multimedia site. Choose one of ten discovery paths and enter the unchartered lands of early 19th century America. Visitors can see and experience the western United States through the eyes of the explorers, learn about the geography, flora and fauna, native peoples, and values and visions that defined their journey. This site has many possibilities for classroom use, but it stands out as an excellent tool for independent student research.

tag(s): jefferson (19), lewis and clark (14), louisiana (6), louisiana purchase (5)

This nice collection of activities and puzzles - some printable and some interactive - teaches and reinforces the history and meaning behind Memorial Day celebrations. Choose from a variety of formats and difficulty levels.

tag(s): holidays (194), memorial day (18), puzzles (148)

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 (52), american revolution (86), famous people (28), japan (62), japanese (54), jazz (17), lincoln (67), politics (118)

This lesson plan explores child labor in America as an historical and social issue. After assuming the roles of historian, photojournalist, and news reporter, students are asked to critically respond to vintage 19th and 20th century photographs. Links to extensive online resources are provided. Good introduction to historical research using primary sources. Add to a unit on the Industrial Revolution.

tag(s): evolution (89), industrial revolution (22)

Using an 18th century New England midwife as a case study, this site introduces students to the intricate business of piecing together history from the fragments that have survived. Students can browse an online diary, use the site's "magic lens" tool to read the text, and gain some insight into the nuances of transcribing centuries-old handwriting. Challenge your students to explore and develop an understanding of the life and times of this colonial woman through her own words. The site also offers a chance to investigate a criminal case from 1789, using diary entries and corresponding court records.

tag(s): colonial america (95), england (49)

Learn about a pivotal event in American history while strengthening research skills. This lesson plan combines primary source documents authored by the Wright brothers with newspaper accounts of the Kitty Hawk accomplishments. Students are asked to compare and contrast the two sources to identify discrepancies and isolate the most reliable documents.

tag(s): flight (34), wright brothers (16)

This site offers beautiful illustrations, photographs and interactive activities, all designed to acquaint visitors with the challenges and achievements of the Wright Brothers. In addition to excellent content - organized by topic in timeline format - the site features an artifact gallery and several well-planned classroom activities. An interactive "pitch, roll, and yaw" experiment is coming soon.

tag(s): wright brothers (16)

What was it like to live in Salem, MA during the infamous Witch Trials? This interactive site places a visitor in the role of a Salem resident who unwittingly finds herself at the center of the witchcraft hysteria. Will she survive? Enter this chilling online drama and find out. The navigation is a bit awkward throughout the site - look for the scroll bars on each page indicating additional text to the right or below. Much information appears in explanatory "windows" so make sure that pop-ups are not blocked on this site.

tag(s): massachusetts (7), salem (5)

This site gives students a very personal glimpse of the Ellis Island experience through the eyes of the more than 40 million immigrants who passed through its doors. Vintage photographs, videos, and audio interviews document each step of the process, and provide a riveting account of this period in American history. The video takes time to download and uses the Quicktime plug-in. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

tag(s): ellis island (6), immigration (84), migration (45)

This helpful timeline details the major events and players in the Women's Rights Movement and provides hyperlinks to related notes and articles. A great reference site for Women's History Month activities.

tag(s): 1920s (14), women (154), womens suffrage (52)

It's not the flashiest Civil War site, but if you're looking for a kid-friendly resource, this one won't disappoint you. You'll find nine standards-based lesson plans and one final exam; a concise, well-written overview of the pivotal events, people, and places that shaped the War Between the States - perfect for the elementary classroom. Added recently are several articles and a quiz for Juneteenth. Older students can use it as a helpful research and review tool.

tag(s): civil war (142), Juneteenth (22), lincoln (67), slavery (80), states (125)