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Discoveries in Dioramas - American Museum of Natural History
Grades
4 to 10
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If you can't make the journey to Washington, D.C.'s American Museum of Natural History, then take your students to this website for an online tour of the panoramic dioramas that ...more
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If you can't make the journey to Washington, D.C.'s American Museum of Natural History, then take your students to this website for an online tour of the panoramic dioramas that are among the museum's most impressive features. Short videos, audio clips, 360 panoramic views, and descriptions of geographic locations and species round out the virtual experience.
tag(s): species (16)
In the Classroom
If your students are studying a particular geographic location or animal species, send them to this multimedia site for some interactive research. Regions represented include the Upper Nile, Alaska's Denali National Forest, the Everglades, and the American plains.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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A Story of Epic Proportions - National Endowment for the Humanities
Grades
6 to 8
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Find out about the history, heroes, and patterns behind the epic poem, with this middle-school level lesson. Students can learn to recognize the epic hero cycle, and the patterns and...more
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Find out about the history, heroes, and patterns behind the epic poem, with this middle-school level lesson. Students can learn to recognize the epic hero cycle, and the patterns and events characteristic of this genre. The lesson also introduces students to the mnemonic devices used by generations of storytellers to help with recall of long and often complicated tales. Includes downloadable worksheets, a glossary of literary terms, and ideas for lesson extensions. Aligned to Standards.
tag(s): poetry (195)
In the Classroom
What would an epic poem of the 21st century look like? Challenge students to write and 'perform" their own epic work based on the characteristics and patterns uncovered in the lesson.
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Critical Evaluation of Information - Kathy Schrock
Grades
3 to 12
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Kathy Schrock's Critical Evaluation of Information page is an outstanding resource for teaching media literacy, digital citizenship, and information evaluation skills in today's...more
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Kathy Schrock's Critical Evaluation of Information page is an outstanding resource for teaching media literacy, digital citizenship, and information evaluation skills in today's AI-driven world. The site provides free downloadable evaluation guides designed for elementary, middle, and high school students that help learners assess the credibility, accuracy, bias, currency, and reliability of websites, blogs, videos, podcasts, apps, and other digital resources. Teachers will also find sample websites for practicing evaluation skills, lesson ideas, and additional resources that support information literacy instruction. This collection is especially valuable for helping students become thoughtful consumers of online information and developing the critical thinking skills needed to navigate both traditional and AI-generated content.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (322), bias (33), brainstorming (19), evaluating sources (52)
In the Classroom
Create a "Fact or Fiction?" research challenge in which students compare information from multiple sources and justify which source is most reliable. Ask students to evaluate AI-generated responses, articles, or images using the same critical evaluation criteria provided on the site. Have students evaluate a website using one of Schrock's grade-level evaluation guides and determine whether the source is trustworthy.
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World Mapper - World Mapper
Grades
6 to 12
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What would a world map look like if countries and continents were sized not by land area, but by population, number of elderly, various type of imports, or emigration? ...more
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What would a world map look like if countries and continents were sized not by land area, but by population, number of elderly, various type of imports, or emigration? This site presents dozens of cartograms - or density-equalizing maps - in which each country is resized according to a specific variable. Each map is accompanied by a downloadable Excel file and a printable poster.
tag(s): immigration (85), maps (221), migration (45), population (53)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on a projector. The population maps would be extremely useful for any class discussion on the world use of resources, and the financial disparities that exist among nations. Use the animations provided on the interactive whiteboard or projector to show students the demographic differences between nations. World Mapper is an wonderful addition to any geography,civics or social studies class, particularly during units on the UN, natural resources, world conflict, and economic disparity.
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Grading on a Curve - New York Times
Grades
6 to 12
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Just how effective are the six key issues of President Bush's domestic agenda? This lesson gives students a chance to assume the role of political analyst as they critically examine...more
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Just how effective are the six key issues of President Bush's domestic agenda? This lesson gives students a chance to assume the role of political analyst as they critically examine the Bush administration. The goal is to create a report card addressing the efficacy of selected domestic topics. Includes suggestions for interdisciplinary activities and projects. Aligned to standards.
tag(s): foreign policy (15), presidents (151)
In the Classroom
Though a bit outdated for a current events class, this would be a great lesson in a US government class looking at the Presidency of George H.W. Bush. Save this lesson as a favorite on your desktop to allow for easy retrieval later on - though be sure to look closely at the lesson and make sure that students have learned enough of the contextual information to be able to make sense of the article. For differentiation, peruse the article before-hand, creating a list of words that students may have trouble with or may not be familiar with. Create a follow-along for the article, defining those words selected to help students as they read. This will allow lower achieving readers to be able to process the information more efficiently and with more comprehension.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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CIA Word Factbook: Iran - CIA
Grades
6 to 12
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The CIA's Factbook offers a wealth of information on most of the world's nations. This is a direct link to the page for Iran. ...more
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The CIA's Factbook offers a wealth of information on most of the world's nations. This is a direct link to the page for Iran.
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on the interactive whiteboard before allowing students to explore it in cooperative learning groups. Have the groups explore different aspects of the factbook, with the intentions of presenting the highlights to the rest of the class. Have students use a tool such as Zeemaps, reviewed here. This site allows students to create audio recordings AND choose a location (on a map) where the story takes place.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Deadly Virus - National Archives and Records Administration
Grades
8 to 12
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How does the threat of the bird flu compare with the actual influenza pandemic that swept the world in 1918, killing more people than died World War I? This ...more
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How does the threat of the bird flu compare with the actual influenza pandemic that swept the world in 1918, killing more people than died World War I? This site provides riveting photographs and commentary, detailing the development and spread of the virus that indiscriminately lowered average life expectancy in the United States by more than 12 years. Find out how it affected American society and read first-hand accounts of its path of destruction.
In the Classroom
The most descriptive part of this website are the images of civil servants in contact with the public wearing surgical masks while performing their everyday duties. Use these images to supplement your lecture on the epidemic, and to spur a class discussion on the comparison between people's reaction for diseases today such as the Swine flu or the Bird flu.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Evolution of the Medieval Book - Cornell University Library
Grades
10 to 12
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It may be a weighty title, but this user-friendly site provides a fascinating glimpse of how the development of moveable type during the Middle Ages completely revolutionized human...more
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It may be a weighty title, but this user-friendly site provides a fascinating glimpse of how the development of moveable type during the Middle Ages completely revolutionized human communication, transforming Europe and, eventually, the entire world. From the earliest manuscripts and prayer books, to the very first books printed with Gutenberg's metal type, students can gain an understanding of how the metamorphosis of the written word affected human society. Includes images of manuscripts, bindings, and illustrations, along with descriptive commentary.
In the Classroom
Although this site lends itself to a study of influences that affected European history during the Middle Ages, art students can explore the illuminations and letterforms that appear on the pages of these early manuscripts and books as part of a study of printmaking techniques.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Play Amazon Explorer
Grades
3 to 6
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Discover the mysteries within the Amazon basin with this engaging activity in which students assume the role of Sam Smith, natural historian. Before boarding the virtual plane to Amazonia,...more
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Discover the mysteries within the Amazon basin with this engaging activity in which students assume the role of Sam Smith, natural historian. Before boarding the virtual plane to Amazonia, students must make note of the questions their research should answer. Once in the rainforest, students can explore the river, forest floor, and canopy to learn about the flora and fauna that live in these regions. At the end of the journey, students are asked to share their answers to the research questions.
tag(s): amazon (11)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on biomes, specifically the Amazon River and the Jungle surrounding it. Allow students to work on the site individually or in cooperative learning groups, helping them review the content. This site is excellent for enrichment. Include it on your teacher's web page for students to access both in and out of class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Child Labor in America - The History Place
Grades
7 to 12
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This collection of haunting images chronicles the lives of working children in America from 1908 through 1912. The photos, taken by Lewis Hine, reveal the dangerous and dismal conditions...more
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This collection of haunting images chronicles the lives of working children in America from 1908 through 1912. The photos, taken by Lewis Hine, reveal the dangerous and dismal conditions in factories, fields, mills, and mines across the United States. Captions provide insight into the wages, responsibilities, and ages of these young workers. A chilling glimpse of child exploitation at the dawn of the 20th century.
tag(s): 20th century (169), photography (136)
In the Classroom
Project these images in your classroom to add some visual realism to a study of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. An excellent primary source to help students understand the significance of the Fair Labor and Standards Act that eventually ended this practice.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Age of Exploration - Mariners' Museum
Grades
3 to 7
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Learn about the courageous voyages that changed the course of human history with this comprehensive collection of activities, narratives, and teaching materials. Visual images and text...more
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Learn about the courageous voyages that changed the course of human history with this comprehensive collection of activities, narratives, and teaching materials. Visual images and text are woven together to create a useful resource for content enrichment and student research. Visit the "Activities for Students and Teachers" for ready-to-go activities with printable handouts that can be incorporated into transparencies, presentations, or reports.
tag(s): explorers (65)
In the Classroom
Use the activities portion of this site to add enrichment to your classroom. There are plenty of quick projects and lesson plans, but there are also two interactive web games that could be used to help students review information. Save those particular portions of the site as favorites on your computer and use them for a learning center or station.
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City Creator
Grades
3 to 6
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Creativity and practicality come together in this imaginative activity that places students in the role of city planner. After choosing one of three thematic scenes, students can begin...more
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Creativity and practicality come together in this imaginative activity that places students in the role of city planner. After choosing one of three thematic scenes, students can begin to add buildings, walkways, streets, and populate them with vehicles and people. Finished designs may be saved, printed, or sent as ecards. Free registration required.
tag(s): cities (14), communities (40)
In the Classroom
Since text cannot be added to the city plans on this site, consider projecting finished plans on an interactive white board and asking students to label or describe buildings and sections of their cities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What Are We Fighting For Over There? - Library of Congress
Grades
10 to 12
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This beautifully designed unit examines the twentieth century's first worldwide conflict and emphasizes the rich primary source material that places a human face on the Great War. Audio...more
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This beautifully designed unit examines the twentieth century's first worldwide conflict and emphasizes the rich primary source material that places a human face on the Great War. Audio recordings, vintage newspaper articles, and transcripts of historic speeches provide students with a treasure of resources for use in building a personal understanding of the devastation and effects of World War I. Aligned to standards.
tag(s): 1900s (85), 1940s (70), 20th century (169), foreign policy (15), world war 1 (86)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this free lesson plan in your classroom during a unit on WWI - the documents are all very revealing and an excellent example for students of reliable primary sources.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Summarizing - Educational Development Center, Inc.
Grades
4 to 8
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After watching the video, go back to the main page and scroll down to Start the Lesson. Students can practice summarizing a text with this interactive quiz. Short passages are ...more
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After watching the video, go back to the main page and scroll down to Start the Lesson. Students can practice summarizing a text with this interactive quiz. Short passages are accompanied by multiple-choice questions that challenge students to zero in on the best summary of the story. Immediate feedback with explanations is provided. An interactive review of the main idea vs. the detail rounds out the activity.
tag(s): assessment (143), quizzes (89), reading comprehension (146), summarizing (26)
In the Classroom
Once students have completed the last quiz with this tool, ask them to create a summarizing activity from their favorite childrens book for their peers to complete. Use Quizalize, reviewed here for this activity.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Intelligent Designs on Evolution - American RadioWorks
Grades
9 to 12
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The debate over intelligent design in the classroom is continually in the news and sparks many strong feelings among educators and members of school communities. This documentary examines...more
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The debate over intelligent design in the classroom is continually in the news and sparks many strong feelings among educators and members of school communities. This documentary examines the concept of intelligent design and offers a series of articles focusing on religion in schools. Interviews, audio transcripts, and related links round out this balanced view of a rather thorny topic.
In the Classroom
Pair with a study of the 1925 Scopes Trial, use as the basis for a "current events" class debate (with a focus on the court system), or challenge students to be on the lookout for similar news items from across the country.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Black History Month - Time, Inc.
Grades
4 to 8
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This highly interactive site provides a kid-friendly overview of Black history, the fight for Civil Rights, and those Americans who have made a major impact on the African American...more
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This highly interactive site provides a kid-friendly overview of Black history, the fight for Civil Rights, and those Americans who have made a major impact on the African American dream. Students can listen to audio clips from pivotal speeches in African American history, participate in an interactive quiz on the fight for equal rights, and explore an interactive timeline.
tag(s): african american (129), civil rights (220), speech (66), speeches (22)
In the Classroom
This site is a great addition to a classroom unit on the civil rights movement. Save the site as a favorite on the classroom computers, and have students work on it pairs, or use it as a learning center. Some of the web quests are basically quizzes in disguise, making them appropriate for review. If using it for review, add the site to your teacher web page so students can access it both in and out of the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lighting a Revolution - Smithsonian
Grades
5 to 8
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This online exhibition from the National Museum of American History examines the process of invention, breaking it down into five distinct stages. Enter one of the virtual laboratory...more
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This online exhibition from the National Museum of American History examines the process of invention, breaking it down into five distinct stages. Enter one of the virtual laboratory doors to discover the similarities and differences between Edison's 19th century work on the electric lamp and the development of 20th century lighting devices. The site includes links to materials that explain the science and engineering behind electric lighting and the factors used to determine energy efficiency.
tag(s): 20th century (169), electricity (63), inventors and inventions (89), light (61)
In the Classroom
Use this resource to frame a student invention unit based on the five stages detailed on the site. Focus the invention process on current or future needs brainstormed by students in class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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GOV.com - GOV.com
Grades
9 to 12
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Need an honest, unbiased resource on government news and policy? Tap into this site that delivers verifiable information on everything from FBI press releases, to travel warnings, to...more
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Need an honest, unbiased resource on government news and policy? Tap into this site that delivers verifiable information on everything from FBI press releases, to travel warnings, to White House statements. No media editing, opinion, or commentary provided! Let your students add that!
In the Classroom
Enrich a current events discussion with this resource. Compare what is heard and seen by students in the media with the facts that appear on this site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Asia for Educators - Columbia University
Grades
10 to 12
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This impressive and extensive multimedia site explores the history and culture of China and Japan, and provides a wealth of teaching materials and resources. Each featured topic is...more
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This impressive and extensive multimedia site explores the history and culture of China and Japan, and provides a wealth of teaching materials and resources. Each featured topic is accompanied by a related lesson plan and an annotated list of supporting online sources. Browse by subject or by time period.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans hosted on this site! There are also timelines about both China and Japan available that can help guide your classroom unit about the history of either. Share a timeline on the interactive whiteboard or projector to introduce the unit and show the direction of progress. This would be a great resource for a world history classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Nuremberg Trials - WGBH
Grades
8 to 12
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This companion site to a PBS special is filled with riveting details and historical photographs that capture the significance of the Nuremberg trials, the people and events that defined...more
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This companion site to a PBS special is filled with riveting details and historical photographs that capture the significance of the Nuremberg trials, the people and events that defined this era, and the devastation experienced by citizens of Berlin after World War II. Includes an illustrated timeline with links to related sites, a photo gallery, and transcripts of interviews with a prison guard and an army photographer.
tag(s): 1940s (70), 20th century (169), courts (25), world war 2 (168)
In the Classroom
Challenge students to think about the similarities and differences between the trial of Saddam Hussein and the Nuremberg trials.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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