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Decoding the Past - Smithsonian Center for Education
Grades
3 to 8
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What can artifacts reveal about the ancient men and women who created them? This site encourages students to think about the type of information human-made objects can reveal about...more
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What can artifacts reveal about the ancient men and women who created them? This site encourages students to think about the type of information human-made objects can reveal about people of the past and present. The three print-friendly lesson plans are the true treasures on this site. With incredible detail they walk through the process of setting up a series of archaeological tasks and provide related worksheets and charts. Topics explored include identifying artifacts, dating soil layers, and interpreting artifacts using typology.
tag(s): archeology (26)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans offered on this site! Lessons are offered for Science, Language Arts and History classrooms - each with a useful review of the topic to help refresh teachers. Make sure and save this one as a favorite to your desktop!You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Price of Freedom - Americans at War - National Museum of American History
Grades
7 to 12
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American military conflicts, from the War of Independence to the War in Iraq, are presented in this beautifully designed multimedia exhibit that examines their effect on American society...more
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American military conflicts, from the War of Independence to the War in Iraq, are presented in this beautifully designed multimedia exhibit that examines their effect on American society and our nation's history. Click on the interactive time line to access photographs, artifacts, and text that provide succinct and riveting overviews of each conflict. This site would make an excellent independent computer lab activity. To enhance the experience, develop some essential questions and a "road map" to guide your students - then turn them loose. Downloadable teacher's manual available. A few of the images still require Flash, however, there are many that don't and there is a lot of information to learn.
tag(s): 1800s (86), 1940s (70), 20th century (169), civil war (135), vietnam (41), world war 2 (168)
In the Classroom
Share this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector as an introduction to this unit or as review. The site hosts vast amounts of information about almost every major American conflict in exhibit form. Go through the exhibits with students through out the lecture as the images are of high quality and can supplement the lecture being given. This site also has valuable information for students working on research projects or papers. If thats the case, save this site as a favorite and refer students with questions to it.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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The Choice 2004 - PBS Frontline
Grades
8 to 12
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Differences between the two presidential candidates are highlighted in this site that examines their lives, experiences, and world views. Dozens of interviews with colleagues, family,...more
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Differences between the two presidential candidates are highlighted in this site that examines their lives, experiences, and world views. Dozens of interviews with colleagues, family, and adversaries are included, along with a chronology of each man's life. Portions of the companion television special can be viewed online.
Although this resource was created for the 2004 Presidential election, the background information, interviews, and links are valuable for teaching about elections in general and for comparing elections as part of U.S. history.
Although this resource was created for the 2004 Presidential election, the background information, interviews, and links are valuable for teaching about elections in general and for comparing elections as part of U.S. history.
tag(s): elections (87)
In the Classroom
Government teachers teaching about the past few election OR attempting to provide examples of the two party system will appreciate this site. The site has information about Bush & Kerry's political beliefs that can be easily compared to show the differences between the two parties. As a class, compare with a tool such as Venn Diagram on the Interactive Whiteboard or projector. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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American Indian FAQs for Kids
Grades
4 to 7
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Although this informational site is heavy on text, it is filled with answers to 20+ questions that kids typically ask about Native Americans. ...more
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Although this informational site is heavy on text, it is filled with answers to 20+ questions that kids typically ask about Native Americans.
tag(s): cultures (290), native americans (127)
In the Classroom
There is so much information on this site that you may want to design a simple scavenger hunt using Goosechase.edu, reviewed hereor a Jigsaw activity, reviewed here around the site on a weekly basis to cover all or most of the questions. Another alternative would be to create a reading guide for every 5 o10 questions using Read Ahead, reviewed here. Or, use this site as a reference for student research. This is a very easy-to-navigate Q & A format.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Walking Around Europe - Learningtogether.net
Grades
6 to 12
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Choose your character - and participate in an interactive game that teaches European culture and geography. Find many other games on this site about European culture on this site, plus...more
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Choose your character - and participate in an interactive game that teaches European culture and geography. Find many other games on this site about European culture on this site, plus an interactive timeline.
tag(s): cultures (290), europe (82), french (72), german (49), italian (31)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on culture within a foreign language class. Have a game of the day that you put on your website for students to play at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Costa Rica: Land of Pure Life - PBS
Grades
5 to 7
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From volcanoes to marine turtles, explore some of Costa Rica's natural wonders. Two lesson plans - one on frogs, the other on volcanic soil - are included in the Teacher ...more
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From volcanoes to marine turtles, explore some of Costa Rica's natural wonders. Two lesson plans - one on frogs, the other on volcanic soil - are included in the Teacher Resources section. While a bit heavy on text, and a bit lacking in photographs, the site has great content for student research. Aligned to national standards.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and classroom activities hosted within the "Teacher Resources" portion of this site. This could be a great resource for a World History classroom, or for a Earth Sciences class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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FactCheck - Annenberg Public Policy Center
Grades
8 to 12
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This searchable, nonpartisan site analyzes and comments on the claims and statements made by U.S. politicians. TV ads, political debates, interviews, and speeches are carefully examined...more
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This searchable, nonpartisan site analyzes and comments on the claims and statements made by U.S. politicians. TV ads, political debates, interviews, and speeches are carefully examined to uncover distortions, misstatements, and mangled facts. A great resource to incorporate into a lesson on the 2008 election process.
In the Classroom
After presidential debates, go to Fact Check to see what was true and what was "stretched." Have students use this site for research about the candidates.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Great Corn Adventure - University of Illinois
Grades
4 to 6
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Add this entertaining resource to a study of the Midwestern United States and the Corn Belt. Your students will be "all ears" for this engaging multimedia presentation. While quite...more
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Add this entertaining resource to a study of the Midwestern United States and the Corn Belt. Your students will be "all ears" for this engaging multimedia presentation. While quite regional in content, it does provide students with an understanding of the history and economic importance of this crop. Check out the Teacher Resources for additional information, links to standards, and interdisciplinary connections.
tag(s): agriculture (54)
In the Classroom
Save this site on classroom computers as a favorite. Allow students to access it as a learning center or station. This site is a great addition to any lesson about Native Americans, Geography of the corn belt, or the impact of globalization on the farming industry.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The War of 1812 - History Channel
Grades
7 to 12
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This companion site to a History Channel special provides some outstanding background information and multimedia presentations documenting the complex and tragic events of the War of...more
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This companion site to a History Channel special provides some outstanding background information and multimedia presentations documenting the complex and tragic events of the War of 1812. Even if you don't view the program, the video clips, timelines, lists of key players, and connections to the world news of the day are worth investigating.
tag(s): 1800s (86), pennsylvania (6), war of 1812 (14)
In the Classroom
Open this site on the interactive whiteboard or projector to access some of the extremely informative videos that are offered about the War of 1812. The videos take several different perspectives, some from James Madison, the British, or from the eye of a historian. Select one of the videos and watch it with the class - although we highly recommend creating a follow along to accompany it.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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London Museum - Museum of London
Grades
6 to 12
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The London Museum (opening 2026 in Smithfield) tells the story of London through hidden histories and unexpected treasures. Currently, visitors can explore London Museum Docklands,...more
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The London Museum (opening 2026 in Smithfield) tells the story of London through hidden histories and unexpected treasures. Currently, visitors can explore London Museum Docklands, a free riverside museum featuring 400 years of Docklands history. The museum offers exhibitions, educational resources, digital collections searchable by time period and London borough, plus engaging family activities and school programs that bring London's past to life.
In the Classroom
Use the museum's digital collections and online exhibitions to take students on a virtual tour of London's history. Students can explore different time periods or boroughs, then create travel brochures, video presentations, or museum guide scripts highlighting what they discovered. This works particularly well for world history, geography, or cultural studies classes.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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September 11: Bearing Witness to History - Smithsonian
Grades
10 to 12
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This is the archived version of the virtual exhibit for September 11, 2001. It provides a collection of stories, images, and objects that represent a material record of 9/11. More ...more
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This is the archived version of the virtual exhibit for September 11, 2001. It provides a collection of stories, images, and objects that represent a material record of 9/11. More than just another 9/11 web site, this resource sensitively documents the people and stories behind the commonplace objects that survived and were carefully preserved. This is a thought-provoking, awe-inspiring site that could be used to generate a discussion about the value of material artifacts in historical interpretation. Use with AP or Honors level history students.
In the Classroom
The portion of this site that was the most impactful was the video posted with live footage of an ABC broadcast as the events of 9/11 were unfolding. You can access the Encyclopdeia Britanica's version of the video on YouTube here. Play the video on an interactive whiteboard or projector, for students as a way to introduce the topic. The advantage of this is it brings everyone to the same page, as some kids may not remember the details or may have forgotten the extreme emotion involved in that moment. It is a very powerful video, and really relays the significance and the pure shock on the part of airline personel (actual audio of First Responders, Air Traffic Controllers, Dispatch Personnel, Airline Employees ...) on that day. Use the video to lead into a lecture or conversation about what followed the report using the Bearing Witness to History site. Are you using blended learning in your class? Having students view the video at home and discussing it in class is perfect for blended learning if your district blocks YouTube. Whether viewing in class or at home you may want to use Moocnote, reviewed here, to add comments, links, and questions to the video.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Political Commercials: Leading or Misleading Voters - PBS News Hour
Grades
9 to 12
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Critical thinking and current events come together in this well-planned lesson that asks students to analyze political commercials and look for logical fallacies. After examining the...more
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Critical thinking and current events come together in this well-planned lesson that asks students to analyze political commercials and look for logical fallacies. After examining the techniques used in the commercials, students use a storyboard template to plan their own commercials for fictitious candidates. As an extension activity, coordinate a video project, and record your students' original political commercials. Downloadable handouts and worksheets are provided. Aligned to National Council for the Social Studies Standards.
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National Museum of the American Indian - Smithsonian
Grades
8 to 12
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This national museum dedicated to the Native people of the Americas provides beautiful collections of online multimedia exhibitions on a variety of cultural and historical subjects....more
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This national museum dedicated to the Native people of the Americas provides beautiful collections of online multimedia exhibitions on a variety of cultural and historical subjects. The Education (under Lesson Plans) link offers a search feature that can include the Featured Nation. Choose lessons from Civics, History, STEM, and Geography. Also find downloadable classroom guides and gentle suggestions on how to avoid stereotyping when teaching your students about Native American culture. Although the site strongly emphasizes artistic contributions of Native Americans, several exhibits examine the tragic loss of native traditions at the hands of social reformers.
tag(s): native americans (127)
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to create a picture walk in your classroom during a unit on Native American culture. Select 10-15 of the more descriptive and diverse images, hanging them around the classroom in different places. Have students rotate around the classroom, moving every 30-45 seconds jotting down what they see in each image. At the end of the walk, have a class discussion based on what students saw in the images and what the walk has portrayed about Native American culture in the time period being studied. This is a great way to introduce the unit in a non-lecture format.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Nostalgia Central
Grades
8 to 12
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Students can gain insight into the fads, fashions, movies, and music that formed the fabric of America during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Year-by-year synopses feature calendars that...more
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Students can gain insight into the fads, fashions, movies, and music that formed the fabric of America during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Year-by-year synopses feature calendars that highlight political and cultural events. This is a great resource for gaining an understanding of American life during the mid to late 20th century.
tag(s): 1950s (33), 1960s (54), 1970s (30), 1980s (21), 20th century (169)
In the Classroom
Use this site to teach students about the counter-culture movement of the 60's in a non-lecture format. Use this site on the interactive whiteboard to showcase popular culture in that decade. This would be a great resource for a US history course focusing on the modern century.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Vote: The Machinery of Democracy - Smithsonian
Grades
7 to 12
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Voting methods in the United States are examined in this beautifully designed on-line exhibit created by the Museum of American History. The varied practices within individual states...more
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Voting methods in the United States are examined in this beautifully designed on-line exhibit created by the Museum of American History. The varied practices within individual states are explored as well as the historical evolution of our ballots and voting systems. Use this site to help students understand the Florida 2000 crisis, as well as the role technology and innovation have played in shaping our experiences at the polls. Although this resource was created for the 2000 election, the background information is valuable for teaching about elections in general and for comparing elections as part of U.S. history. There is a lot of information to learn from this site, even though some of this site requires Flash.
tag(s): civics (128), college (41), elections (87), electoral college (24)
In the Classroom
Use the interactive exhibition portion of this site as a learning center or station during a unit on the US election process. (extra bonus if your class is specifically studying the 2000 election!) Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts demonstrating their understanding of one of the concepts. Use a site such as podOmatic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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State Facts for Students - US Census Bureau
Grades
3 to 6
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This practical research tool provides useful, kid-friendly information about each of the fifty states. Students can learn about the census, discover state-related facts, and test their...more
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This practical research tool provides useful, kid-friendly information about each of the fifty states. Students can learn about the census, discover state-related facts, and test their knowledge with some challenging quiz questions. An interactive map serves as an easy navigational tool to reveal state-by-state information including total population, urban and rural residences, school enrollment, and languages spoken.
tag(s): states (128)
In the Classroom
Use this site during state research. Compare various states and have cooperative learning groups create two circle Venn Diagrams comparing two specific states using a site such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ancient China - British Musem
Grades
7 to 12
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Discover the culture of ancient China with this outstanding, interactive site that explores its artisans, geography, tombs, writings, and more. Each section of the site provides historical...more
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Discover the culture of ancient China with this outstanding, interactive site that explores its artisans, geography, tombs, writings, and more. Each section of the site provides historical information, a story, an in-depth exploration, and a challenge. The challenge activities promote higher level thinking and are ideal for independent practice and review.
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on Ancient China. There is a lot of content on the site, so it would be beneficial to create a graphic organizer for students to help organize their notes. (If looking for an easy find, we recommend using Graphic Organizer Maker, (reviewed here).) Teachers can also use the challenges to assess student participation, not to mention that kids will enjoy the brief respite from note-taking! A very useful resource for the world history classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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U.S. Electoral College
Grades
8 to 12
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Most students are a bit fuzzy on the role the Electoral College plays in choosing our president every four years. This site answers many questions in an easy to understand ...more
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Most students are a bit fuzzy on the role the Electoral College plays in choosing our president every four years. This site answers many questions in an easy to understand format. The history behind the system is discussed along with the particulars of its function. An overview of the intricacies of the 2000 election is also provided. This is strictly an informational resource - no bells or whistles - so use your creativity to build a lesson around it.
In the Classroom
While we're aware this is a public domain site with the reputation of being a bit unreliable, the images on this site would be an excellent resource for government teachers teaching about the Electoral College and its history. Use these images in a lecture or PowerPoint slide to help clarify how the electoral college has functioned in the past.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Apollo 11 - NASA
Grades
4 to 12
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It's July 20, 1969 and millions of Americans are glued to their television watching Neil Armstrong take that first historic step on the surface of the moon. This multimedia NASA ...more
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It's July 20, 1969 and millions of Americans are glued to their television watching Neil Armstrong take that first historic step on the surface of the moon. This multimedia NASA site recreates that Apollo 11 mission, from its launch to its splashdown. Students can view vintage photographs, listen to the mission's audio recording, browse news articles, and tour the video gallery.
tag(s): moon (87)
In the Classroom
Use the video clips over the interactive whiteboard to supplement the text in discussing the Apollo missions. The clip of the first landing would be a great way to introduce the topic, putting all students at the same level of understanding before beginning a lecture or class discussion. Great resource for a US history classroom!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Death of the Father - John Borneman & Linda Fisher
Grades
9 to 12
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This rather specialized resource takes a look at six former political leaders who created entire political regimes: Mussolini, Ceausescu, Hitler, Hirohito, Stalin, and Tito, and examines...more
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This rather specialized resource takes a look at six former political leaders who created entire political regimes: Mussolini, Ceausescu, Hitler, Hirohito, Stalin, and Tito, and examines their respective regime. Concise text, maps, photographs, and sound bytes, contribute to a multimedia experience that provides a clear and compelling introduction to these six political systems. A glossary, series of timelines, and links to related sites make this a very user-friendly site for student research.
tag(s): 1920s (25), 1930s (40), 1940s (70), 20th century (169), hitler (6), world war 2 (168)
In the Classroom
What's helpful about this site is the list of commonly used vocabulary and terms that can help ESL students or lower-level readers prepare for the unit. Browse the site before beginning a unit and collect a list that would be helpful to such students. Having the lists with them can help them prepare and participate in the classroom setting with more understanding.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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