Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

We're not partial to "lists of lists," but this Canadian site's thematic organization of scores of web resources provides an effective interdisciplinary framework for a study of the Great War and its effects on Europe and the world. The section on participation by country helps show that it wasn't just the French, Germans, British, and Americans who were involved.

tag(s): world war 1 (77)

Lots of facts, sound effects, and historical information on World War I aviators and their activities. The kids will love this one.

tag(s): aviation (40), world war 1 (77)

Web site based on the PBS series of the same name.

tag(s): world war 1 (77)

Here is a collection of first-hand accounts of selected battles and other events during World War I, from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand onward. They're a great introduction to the use of primary sources in studying historical events. Students may be particularly interested in comparing first-hand accounts of an event with the way in which those same events are presented today.

tag(s): world war 1 (77)

This site from Militaryhistoryonline.com offers a complete military historian's resource for understanding the three days of the Gettysburg battle. The details in this site will be overkill for all but the most enthusiastic Civil War buffs, but it provides an excellent overview of the battle's events. If a field trip to Gettysburg is in your schedule, this site would be a great starting point for either teachers or students.

tag(s): civil war (139), gettysburg (15)

Treasured moments from the 1850s are relived in the archived collection of Godey's Lady's Book, the periodical that many scholars say changed the role of the American woman. Each book is full of poetry, sketches and articles by well-known authors of the time. From the University of Rochester.

tag(s): women (151), womens suffrage (52)

This site from the Smithsonian documents the historic importance of the flag that flew over Fort McHenry when Francis Scott Key wrote the song that has become our national anthem.

tag(s): war of 1812 (15)

Cornell University created this site based on a collection of magazines and other printed materials covering the period from roughly 1840 - 1890. The listings show images of the actual pages from the journals, so students can see images and text as they originally appeared. This makes the site a great way for students to understand just what people of the period were seeing and reading.

tag(s): history day (39), journals (15)

Find interactives, podcasts, tool kits, lesson plans, original paintings from the Convention, and more at this great resource.

tag(s): constitution (96)

The Library of Congress has collected original writings by settlers and explorers in California during the period 1850-1900. Indexed by author, subject, and title, this site offers lots of starting points for talented students interested in using primary source materials for research in history or social studies.

tag(s): california (17), explorers (64), gold rush (15)

An Archivist's approach to early American documents and related information. A unique array of original newspapers, maps and writings come to life on screen just as they appeared to our forebears more than 200 years ago. These archival materials-- forming as they do a historical record of a significant time in the American experience-- are displayed in their original formats. Special Features: Material from 18th Century America-- all displayed digitally. Historic early American documents, trivia, life in Colonial times, Colonial crossword puzzle.

tag(s): colonial america (95), primary sources (117)

This site, created by the Virginia Historical Society, provides a look at recent archaeological activities around the site of the original Jamestown fort and settlement. In addition to descriptions and a number of photos, the site offers additional links to other sites dealing with Jamestown and early English settlements in Virginia.

tag(s): explorers (64)

This site provides students with several options in order to fully explore the era known as the Westward Expansion. "Events In The West" is an interactive timeline tracing events from ancient times to the early twentieth century. "Places In The West" is an interactive map covering the territory and times. "Tour The West" contains a multimedia guide which follows the eight-part PBS documentary series. For students completing research reports, I recommend clicking on " Archives of The West" which contains materials including memoirs, journals, letters, photos, and transcripts used in creating the documentary.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): westward expansion (39)

Ghost towns are a great "hook" to get students interested in how and why frontier towns were settled, and the reasons those towns died out - sometimes only a few years later. This site has ghost towns indexed by state, with maps and a brief history of each town. Visually interesting history with a different twist.

tag(s): gold rush (15), westward expansion (39)

Scroll over the images to read about them.

tag(s): westward expansion (39)

A detailed, text-heavy account of the formation and history of the pony express mail service in the western United States. What this site lacks in visuals it more than makes up for with its collection of colorful stories about the owners and riders in this uniquely American communication service.

tag(s): westward expansion (39)

This site provides background information, timeline, and illustrated explanations of what happened during the gold rush. Originally intended to accompany the PBS documentary, the site can also be useful for those who do not have access to the video. If you choose to use the video, there are lesson plans and handouts to use before and after viewing. The A "Fun Facts" section of information is interesting for all.

tag(s): gold rush (15), westward expansion (39)

A look at fur trading in the Rocky Mountain west.

tag(s): westward expansion (39)

This is the web site for Ken Burns' PBS series on the travels of Lewis and Clark. It provides a significant resource for studying the explorers' travels, along with study suggestions.

tag(s): explorers (64), lewis and clark (14)

Drawn from the Smithsonian's history of the U.S. Postal Service, this page of Gold Rush stories includes narrative and pictures explaining how people arrived in Alaska and traveled inland to stake their claims in the gold fields. The site is remarkable more for its variety of original sources than for its visual effects, but there's a lot to learn here.

tag(s): alaska (21), gold rush (15)