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Tour the U.S. Capitol - US Government
Grades
6 to 12
tag(s): architecture (81)
In the Classroom
If teaching about initial plans for the construction of DC and how those developed, use the images from this site to compliment a class discussion or lecture. Within the teacher and students page, there are numerous images that detail L'enfant's original ideas for DC. Teachers can incorporate these in graphic organizers or even a slide-show over the interactive whiteboard.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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The Capitol - An Interactive Tour - University of Virginia
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): architecture (81)
In the Classroom
Use any of the separate sections on this website as learning center or stations during lesson(s) on the architecture and symbolism of our capitol's historic buildings. Have students explore the site individually or cooperative learning groups as an introductory activity. Because there is a lot of material on the site, create follow-alongs to guide students and highlight what is most important on the site. For help making easy graphic organizers use Graphic Organizer Maker, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Congressional Directory
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): biographies (94), congress (38)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a starting point for students working on biographies or research projects about specific congressmen. Although the biographies are short, they provide other resources that could easily be followed up!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Civics Online
Grades
1 to 12In the Classroom
Be sure to save this site as a favorite to allow for easy retrieval later on.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mosaic America on Film: Fact Versus Fiction - Yale University
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): cross cultural understanding (177), cultures (290)
In the Classroom
Use this lesson plan to add multicultural perspectives to various lessons throughout your US history curriculum. Although intended to be taught separately, these lessons could easily be modified to fit within your pre-determined units, making the content more accurate. Make sure to add this one as a favorite to allow for easy retrieval later on!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness - Yale University
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): american revolution (87)
In the Classroom
If in need for some new material during a lesson on the American Revolution, take advantage of this one provided by Yale University. Just make sure to save it as a favorite on your classroom computer, to allow for easy retrieval later on.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Eye Behind the Camera: the Voice Behind the Story - Yale University
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): civil rights (220), racism (80)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this free lesson plan during a unit on racism and civil rights! Make sure to save this one as a favorite on your classroom computer to allow for easier retrieval later on.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Immigration Simulation - Ellis Island
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): ellis island (6), immigration (81), migration (45)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and classroom activities hosted on this site! Make sure to save this one as a favorite to allow for easier retrieval later on.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Immigrant Wall of Honor
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): ellis island (6), immigration (81), migration (45), new york (23)
In the Classroom
Use the "search names" option to allow students to search for their ancestors who came through Ellis Island, or even to see if they can find anyone with a like-name. The activity could be a great writing prompt, with students writing a diary entry of the person they found, detailing what it must have been like the pass through Ellis Island. There would have to be additional resources available about Ellis Island, but it could make for a great activity!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Ellis Island Museum
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): ellis island (6), immigration (81), migration (45), new york (23)
In the Classroom
One of the more interesting details of this site is the timeline of Ellis Island that is showcased in the section entitled "Ellis Island." The background information is interesting and provides reason for Ellis Island's symbolic value. Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore this site independently or in small groups. To show what they have learned from this site, challenge students to create an online infographic to share using Visme, reviewed here. Have students pick a detail from the timeline such as most interesting, most important or most symbolic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Within These Walls - Smithsonian Institution
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): family (53), massachusetts (8)
In the Classroom
The "Go Back in time" activity would be a quick and interesting way for students to review primary evidences and determine what time period they would be from. This can be done as a class on the interactive whiteboard. Complete the activity, and afterwards let it lead into a class discussion of what sources are and how historians determine validity. This would be a great way to review the information before a big research project or paper, when students will be collecting their own sources.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Religion and the Founding of the American Republic
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): colonial america (97), primary sources (125), religions (121)
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to create a "picture walk" in your classroom, introducing the topic of religion in US politics and government. Select 10-15 of the more powerful and diverse images, hanging 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!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Picturing the Century - National Archives
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): images (263)
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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Living History Farms
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): agriculture (53)
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 (169), cultures (290)
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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A Biography of America - CPB/Annenberg
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): american revolution (87)
In the Classroom
The possibilities for this site are virtually limitless. Open the site on the interactive whiteboard or projector and select one of the many topics that is applicable to your unit. Teachers can play the video for students to review material, use the map to provide something for visual learners can connect to, or use the time-line to guide student learning. This is really an amazing tool for teachers trying to utilize technology in the classroom!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 (125)
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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National Archives: Educator Resources - National Archives
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): civics (127), media literacy (113), primary sources (125)
In the Classroom
This is an excellent site for any history, art history, or civics teacher attempting to put forth something more tangible for students to grasp. Click on "Images of the American Revolution," and open up the pictures on the interactive whiteboard or projector. Question students as to the meaning and context of the illustrations, to help them understand how images were used to convey certain meanings. Ask the students to create their own cartoons about something controversial in their town, or about the unit being studied, and encourage them to use some of the same subtle concepts the original illustrators did.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Colonial Charters - Yale University
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): colonial america (97)
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 (125)
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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