Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This is a simple webquest to introduce students to many of the techniques used in radio that are still used in film production today. It also familiarizes students with the era of radio -- an important experience for those trying to understand history of the first half of the twentieth century. The webquest is almost deceptively simple. The age of your students and the sophistication with which they approach the task can determine the level you want to teach. It includes the elements of typical webquests from introduction through evaluation in an easy, step-by-step manner.

tag(s): 1930s (20), 1940s (14), decades (7), radio (20), writing (325)

The Mayflower comes alive as you explore the passenger list with accompanying personal history and genealogy. Click on the Pilgrim History link for a history of Thanksgiving and other Mayflower-era topics, including authentic recipes.

tag(s): genealogy (8), pilgrims (12), primary sources (117), thanksgiving (24)

This website, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, provides an enormous collection of "web lessons" (interactives) for all grade levels. There are lessons in language arts, math, science, social studies, and health. There are too many lesson plans to count - and all are projector, laptop, or whiteboard-ready. Just to give you an idea of some of these unique lessons, some of the titles include "Where is Japan?", "Walrus World", "Piece of Pie", "Medians", "Fence Me In", and "Critter Craze". On the main page, a brief description is provided for each lesson plan. Click Teacher Solutions > Lesson Plans to search by subject or grade level.

tag(s): charts and graphs (171), evolution (89), expository writing (31), industrial revolution (22), native americans (108), primary sources (117), probability (99), symmetry (26), writing (325)

Have a high speed Internet connection? (Most schools do) Then you MUST visit these 3D virtual tours of beautiful sites all over the world with your students. Read the Welcome message on the home page for directions and details, then explore the current features and several years of archives for 3D virtual tours from major world capitals to true "experiences" such as Times Square and white water rafting. Even the tour of a Banyan tree will amaze you. Bring the world into your classroom for geography, landforms, world cultures, foreign language study, or literary settings. Be in the midst of festivals or atop the Sydney Bridge.

tag(s): images (263), landforms (39), virtual field trips (128)

Doris Voitier, Superintendent of the St. Bernard Parish Schools in New Orleans area gave this speech in acceptance of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation's Profiles in Courage Award in 2007. Her account of the challenges during and after Hurricane Katrina and the response by the staff of the St. Bernard Parish schools is awe-inspiring and heartening to educators. Her oral history also provides a powerful view of FEMA and the U.S. government from the eyes of hurricane survivors and local public officials.

TeachersFirst is fortunate to have Doris Voitier as a member of the board of directors of our parent company and is proud to congratulate her on this prestigious award.

tag(s): hurricanes (32)

The National Women's Hall of Fame celebrates the contributions of women to society and each year nominates outstanding women for inclusion. This site contains brief biographies of each of these women. Be sure to see the video interviews with many modern day women "heroes" such as former first lady Rosalynn Carter, pilot Emily Warner, astronomer Dr. Judith Pipher, and several others.

tag(s): famous people (19), women (151), womenchangemaker (37)

This website is filled with wonderful information about our national bird, the American Bald Eagle. It is a detailed site, with topics ranging from nesting and migration to eyesight and hearing. The site is easy to read and simple to navigate. Be sure to click on the Myths and Legends to see how the Bald Eagle has been viewed throughout history. Students with reading disabilities or low reading levels may need to some assistance with Native American verbiage.

tag(s): endangered species (27), species (16)

This site has links to everything you ever wanted to know about the Elizabeth world from a Compendium of Life in Elizabethan England to Heraldry to the transcripts of the trials of the Earls of Essex and Southampton. It also includes a link to a list of more than a hundred recommended sites for the Renaissance and Elizabethan times.Teachers of everything from world history to Shakespeare will find something to mine at this site. The Compendium of Elizabethan Life is especially interesting to those students who want to know "how things worked" 500 years ago in the time of Will Shakespeare. While this is a great research sourcefor Shakespeare, it is also good for drama, literature, and history for all sorts of activities.

tag(s): elizabethan (13), renaissance (38)

This website includes information about Benjamin Franklin, lesson ideas for the classroom, field trip ideas for visiting the Franklin Institute and information about the many unique and educational exhibits at the museum. Ben Franklin is one of America's most colorful patriots. His accomplishments as legislator, diplomat, and scientist were recognized as extraordinary even in his own day. Philadelphia's Franklin Institute has a memorial to Franklin. You can include it in your Philadelphia visit, or learn more about it here.

tag(s): colonial america (95), franklin (12), philadelphia (10)

Carpenters' Hall was the site of the first Continental Congress. Carpenters' Hall was a key meeting spot during the struggle for independence. This website provides information about the history of Carpenters' Hall and a lot of other information about the past and present.

tag(s): colonial america (95), philadelphia (10)

This website provides information about Independence Hall. There are photos and brief descriptions of the State House (now Independence Hall). The website also provides details about the events that took place there.

tag(s): colonial america (95), philadelphia (10)

A Biography of Paul Revere will tell you a little more about Revere's career as a silversmith and his activities as a patriot.

tag(s): boston (10), colonial america (95)

Wow - this website is very engaging! Paul Revere's Ride is one of the American Revolution's most famous events. Here's a description, with a link to a famous poem. Be sure to check out the interactive "ride."

tag(s): boston (10), colonial america (95)

The Freedom Trail Page provides information on this Boston "trail" and the historic places you'll see along the way.

tag(s): boston (10), colonial america (95)

Williamsburg for Teachers offers a lot of possibilities. The "experience colonial life" selection takes you to descriptions of different trades and occupations, with pictures showing how they were conducted. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. There are lesson plans, tours, video clips and more.

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

The U.S.S. Constitution Museum has lots of additional information about the U.S.S. Constitution. This website provides some great information about the famous ship (U.S.S. Constitution).

tag(s): boston (10), colonial america (95), constitution (96)

The Charlestown Navy Yard is home to the U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), one of the Navy's oldest ships. You can visit this and several other old ships and buildings. This is the Park Service guide to the area.

tag(s): boston (10), colonial america (95)