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Living History Farms
Grades
4 to 12
tag(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.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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At Home in the Heartland
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): 20th century (171), cultures (299)
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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Democracy in America - C-SPAN
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): primary sources (164)
In the Classroom
Use the journal entries portion of this site to help students not only learn the content, but to learn to retrieve information from primary sources. Divide students into groups, and assign them each one of the states Tocqueville wrote about. Have students analyze and interpret what was written, with the intentions of presenting their findings to the class. To connect it to the content being studied at the time, have a discussion with students about whether Congress was also concerned or if we see some of the issues he talked about still prevalent today.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Who Invented it? When? Chinese Inventions: An Introductory Activity - Ask Asia
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): asia (138), china (79), inventors and inventions (89)
In the Classroom
Use this free lesson plan in class during a unit on Chinese inventions and innovations. Make sure to mention the years inventions were made while performing the activity, students will be amazed just how many inventions we use today were made almost 3 thousand years ago!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Papers of George Washington - University of Virginia
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): presidents (152), primary sources (164), washington (33)
In the Classroom
In a discussion of the Revolutionary War or the Founding Fathers, use the pictures and images to supplement your lecture. Very rarely do students get to see time-period appropriate maps, and those provided on the site can be used to show and diagram major battles. The site also provides some excellent primary sources that complement such a unit. An excellent one to look at is his famed "Farewell Address," which can be used for both a revolutionary unit and any on American Diplomacy. Have students read the address as a class, following it with a discussion on how this speech impacted American foreign relations for the next 200 years. A great site for any resources on Washington!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): supreme court (33)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a point of reference for finding material for debates in a US history classroom. Teachers can search for materials to base a debate on, or have students use this site to find supportive evidence for their side of the debate.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 (164)
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 (131), media literacy (133), primary sources (164)
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, Grants, and Related Documents - Yale University
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): colonial america (86), primary sources (164)
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 (164)
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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Statistical Abstract of the United States - US Government
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): demographics (13), population (51), statistics (126)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a point of reference for any and all statistical information about the US population. Teachers can use this to find voter and state information, which would be useful in a discussion about apportion of state delegates in the House of Representatives.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Trebuchet.com
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): medieval (36)
In the Classroom
Share this site on the interactive whiteboard or projector to introduce a unit or lesson on the physics of throwing machines. Use this site to provide a historic example of their many uses. Teachers can focus simply on the history of mechanics of the machinery OR can have students attempt to create their own based on the directions and resources provided. This would be a great resource for either a History or Physics classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Multicultural Music - Wesleyan University
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): africa (162), music theory (49)
In the Classroom
Music or History teachers looking for music sources to supplement a lesson should look here first! Not only is there information to help teachers/students review - but there are resources that allow you to listen to the music being studied in each section. This could be useful in a lesson on the Harlem Renaissance, the 1920's, or even the Jazz age.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Race, Language and Separation - Yale University
Grades
5 to 6tag(s): racism (82)
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People, Places & Pictures - Yale University
Grades
7 to 8tag(s): cultures (299)
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Pocahontas, From Fiction to Fact: Using Disney's Film to Teach the - Yale University
Grades
4 to 6In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and classroom activities on this page! Great for an English classroom, plus the activities work on creating critical thinking in students. Be sure to save the site as a favorite to allow for easy reference later on.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Literature of the U.S. Civil War - Yale University
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): civil war (148), literature (215)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans that are offered on this site about the Civil War. The unit plan offers varying approaches, such as small and large group work varying on what is more efficient in your classroom. This lesson plan is worth sorting through the large amount of text - be patient!Older students can keep a blog sharing their learning and understanding using Telegra.ph, reviewed here. With Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or X (formerly Twitter) links. This blog creator requires no registration. If you are teaching younger students and looking for an easy way to integrate technology and check for understanding, challenge your students to create a blog using Seesaw, reviewed here.
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Immigration History Firsthand - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): local history (12)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and activities offered by the Library of Congress! The lessons all come equipped with corresponding standards, so teachers can rest assured this is all valid information that will help satisfy their requirements.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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World War II As Seen Through Children's Literature - Yale University
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): world war 2 (169)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plan on this site! Be sure to save as a favorite, allowing you to take advantage of it whenever you need.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Langston Hughes: Artist and Historian - Yale University
Grades
6 to 8tag(s): poetry (196)
In the Classroom
Using the Narrative and create a guided reading activity using vocabulary, keywords, and phrases with Read Ahead, reviewed here. In pairs or small groups, have students read the short biography about Langston Huges and Jim Crow laws. Read Ahead is perfect for introducing any reading passages to struggling readers, special education students, and ENL/ELL learners. After using this lesson, extend student learning by having them further reseach and present to their classmates some of the events mentioned in the narrative. Ask them to choose a product for their presentation from Genially, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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