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Religion and the Founding of the American Republic
Grades
6 to 12
tag(s): primary sources (184), colonial america (86), religions (118)
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to create a "picture walk" in your classroom to introduce the topic of religion in US politics and government. Select 10-15 of the more powerful and diverse images and hang them up in different locations around your classroom. Have students rotate around the classroom every 30-45 seconds, jotting down what they observe and infer about each image until the entire class has completed the circuit. After the class is back in their seats, have a class discussion based on what they observed and what this says about the people's desire for an establishment clause. A great way to get students thinking about the content in a way that's more personal and lecture-less!You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Picturing the Century - National Archives
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): images (274)
In the Classroom
History and social studies teachers should see this one.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Divining America - Lilly Endowment
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): civics (142), politics (120), 20th century (170)
In the Classroom
This is an excellent site for examining religion throughout American history! A great use for this site would be to review for a unit soon to close on religion. Introduce the site on the interactive whiteboard or projector, and allow cooperative learning groups to pick the topic that most interests them. Insuring that each group has a different topic, allow them to explore the remainder of the site on classroom computers. Have groups show what they learned using a tool such as an online poster creator, like Padlet (reviewed here). Allow students to present their posters on the interactive whiteboard or projector, thereby helping their peers review the subject matter!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Living History Farms
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): agriculture (52)
In the Classroom
Each farm section has limited information offered, so this activity would best be used as an quick introduction to a unit rather than a major activity. Open the site on the interactive whiteboard or projector, and examine each farm with the class. Pull out important characteristics offered, and compare and contrast the farms. We recommend a Venn diagram tool such as 2 and 3 Circle Interactive Venn Diagrams, reviewed here. This would be a useful activity to discuss the differences in habitats, and different ways people have subsisted on the same land.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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At Home in the Heartland
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): 20th century (170), cultures (285)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station to accompany US history curriculum. Find the time period that's most appropriate for the unit being studied, with students working in pairs to explore the site. Before beginning your unit, use a quiz tool like Baamboozle, reviewed here, to assess student knowledge or use Baamboozle as a review tool at the end of your unit. This would be a better tool to help review since not all the material is "need-to-know" for National standards but serves as great supplementary information that students can connect the content to.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Democracy in America - C-SPAN
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): primary sources (184)
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.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): washington (33), primary sources (184), presidents (155)
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 (37)
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 (184)
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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Colonial Charters, Grants, and Related Documents - Yale University
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): primary sources (184), colonial america (86)
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 (184)
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 (12), population (49), statistics (126)
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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World War II As Seen Through Children's Literature - Yale University
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): world war 2 (168)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plan on this site! Be sure to save as a favorite, allowing you to take advantage of it whenever you need.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Submarines! - Smithsonian Institution
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): navy (8)
In the Classroom
This site is a little text heavy, so be sure to use this with caution! If using as a learning center, pair lower & higher-level readers together - allowing your lower-level readers to get some help along the way. Because there is a lot of information here, only use if you have a guide or follow-along to help highlight for students what's most important off the site. For help creating easy graphic organizers, we recommend using Graphic Organizer Maker.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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National World War II Museum - National World War II Museum: Learn
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): veterans (38), d day (11), world war 2 (168), 1940s (69)
In the Classroom
This site could be the focal point for an extensive unit on World War II, with different student groups investigating aspects of the war. Or feature this site during a single lesson on D-Day. Ask students to decide which technology depicted in the science and technology interactive was the most important factor in the outcome of the war. Share videos on your projector or interactive whiteboard or assign students to create their own online posters about different facets of World War II using Adobe Express for Education.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 (37)
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 (39), presidents (155)
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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Library of Congress: for Teachers - U.S. Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): primary sources (184), Research (94)
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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Mythweb Lessons
Grades
4 to 10In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free teacher guides and lesson plans offered on this site! Definitely a helpful resource for a world history classroom.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 (88)
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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